SpaceX successfully launched its sixth Starship test flight on Tuesday in Texas, with CEO Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump attending the event together at the launch site. However, the attempt to catch the Super Heavy booster using a massive pair of metal arms upon its return to Earth did not succeed.
“We didn’t meet the criteria for the tower catch,” said SpaceX commentators during the live stream. “We are constantly assessing the conditions for a successful catch, but unfortunately, we will forgo it today.”
While the main goal of catching the 20-story rocket booster in space was not achieved, the mission successfully executed an offshore water landing for the booster and reignited the Starship engines after completing its orbit around Earth.
“It wasn’t guaranteed that the booster would be caught today, but the safety of our teams, the public, and the launch pad is our priority,” the SpaceX team explained. “We also had the goal of relighting a Raptor engine in space, which is essential for performing deorbit burns for future orbital missions.”
Trump, who previously mocked SpaceX’s launches as “rocket ships to nowhere,” now fully supports the company. He showed his backing by attending the launch and posting on social media, saying, “Good luck to @ElonMusk and the great patriots involved in this incredible project!”
Musk has reportedly contributed around $120 million to support Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign and was recently appointed to lead the Trump administration’s new Department of Government Efficiency.
The Starship test flights aim to develop a rapidly reusable launch system, including reusing heat shield tiles to withstand the intense temperatures during reentry. As the most powerful rocket ever built, SpaceX plans to use Starship to transport people to the Moon and Mars.
NASA has also chosen Starship as the vehicle to land American astronauts on the Moon, with the mission scheduled for 2026.
