SpaceX launched its sixth Starship test flight on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) from Texas, as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump watched on in person alongside Elon Musk.
Starship marks the biggest rocket ever built at 120-metres-tall and can carry up to 100 people. The launch was hoping to see the catch-landing be "faster/harder” Musk said.
It was a no-go for the catch however, after SpaceX said it will not be attempting to catch the Super Heavy booster with the launch tower chopsticks.
“The safety of the teams and the public and the pad itself are paramount, so we’re accepting no compromises in those areas,” SpaceX said on X.
The launch was streamed live on the company’s website and on Musk’s social media platform X, which showed the Super Heavy surprisingly splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.
SpaceX plans to establish a permanent human colony on Mars by 2050 and will use its rockets to ferry crew and cargo across the solar system.
Tuesday’s rocket was uncrewed and is the world’s most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, capable of carrying up to 150 metric tonnes fully reusable and 250 metric tonnes expendable.