SpaceX Starship Test Flight: Booster Catch Success, Spacecraft Lost in Gulf of Mexico

SpaceX conducted its latest test flight of the Starship rocket on Thursday, achieving a significant milestone by successfully catching the rocket booster at the launch pad using its upgraded "chopsticks" mechanical arms. However, the ascending spacecraft suffered a setback as contact was lost 8.5 minutes into the flight due to engine issues, leading to its destruction.

The test took place in Boca Chica, Texas, near the Mexican border, with the Starship rocket soaring into the skies during the late afternoon. Packed with 10 dummy satellites designed to mimic SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites, the mission intended to simulate satellite deployment before the spacecraft’s planned descent into the Indian Ocean. Despite the failure to complete the mission, this marked the seventh test flight for Starship, the largest and most powerful rocket in the world.

The catch tower was reinforced following November’s test flight, where a failed attempt to capture the booster damaged critical sensors. This time, the booster hovered precisely above the launch pad before being securely gripped by the robotic arms, marking the second successful booster recovery.

Elon Musk envisions the Starship program as a stepping stone toward interplanetary exploration, with plans to launch satellites, crewed missions, and NASA’s lunar landings in the coming years. Musk reiterated his long-term ambition: “Every Starship launch is one more step closer towards Mars.”

Meanwhile, in Florida, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin launched its New Glenn rocket, successfully reaching orbit but losing its booster in the Atlantic Ocean.