SpaceX’s latest Starship test flight failed to replicate its recent booster catch milestone on Tuesday, as President-elect Donald Trump joined CEO Elon Musk at the company’s Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. The launch of the 121-meter-tall Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, was eagerly anticipated as a showcase of engineering prowess and Elon Musk’s vision of making humanity a multiplanetary species.
The test, Starship’s sixth flight, launched at 4:00 pm local time (2200 GMT), but the Super Heavy booster stage fell short of expectations. Instead of being caught by the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms—a feat demonstrated in the previous flight—it made a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. SpaceX representatives attributed the outcome to unmet technical criteria, disappointing Donald Trump and other prominent attendees, including Donald Trump Jr.
The event highlighted the growing rapport between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who has been a visible ally of the president-elect since his November 5 victory. Elon Musk has frequently appeared alongside Donald Trump, including at a meeting with Argentina’s President Javier Milei and even at a UFC event. Critics have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, given SpaceX’s lucrative government contracts with NASA and the Pentagon.
Despite the setback, the flight achieved several milestones, including the first payload for Starship—a stuffed banana—and further tests of the rocket’s upper stage. The upper stage completed a partial orbit of Earth, reentered the atmosphere, and splashed down in the Indian Ocean. Engineers used the test to analyze new heat shield materials and reignite Starship’s Raptor engines in space for the first time.
Starship plays a critical role in Elon Musk’s ambitions, with the first uncrewed missions to Mars targeted for 2026, coinciding with the next optimal launch window to the Red Planet. NASA is also relying on a modified version of Starship to land astronauts on the Moon as part of the Artemis program later this decade.
The test flight occurred amid Elon Musk’s heightened political involvement. After campaigning extensively for Donald Trump and making significant financial contributions, Elon Musk has been appointed co-leader of the new Department of Government Efficiency, raising concerns over potential self-dealing. Critics worry Elon Musk’s dual roles as a government insider and corporate leader could influence regulatory decisions to benefit his companies, including SpaceX.
While Elon Musk teased an even more powerful successor, Starship V3, set to launch within a year, Tuesday’s test emphasized the challenges SpaceX faces as it pushes the boundaries of space exploration.
