SpaceX has successfully launched the massive Starship rocket for the eighth time. It also landed the first-stage Super Heavy booster, but again lost the upper-stage Starship spacecraft before it could reach its targeted landing point in the Indian Ocean.
The latest flight test of the most powerful rocket ever to fly got underway from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, at about 5:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, March 7.
Liftoff of Starship! pic.twitter.com/OL7moLdZ2u
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 6, 2025
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Minutes after separating from the Starship spacecraft, the Super Heavy booster returned to the launch tower where it was secured by two giant mechanical arms. This is the third time for SpaceX to achieve the feat, and allows the company to reuse the booster for future missions.
Mechazilla has caught the Super Heavy booster! pic.twitter.com/JFeJSdnQ5x
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) March 6, 2025
But an anomaly caused the spacecraft to spin out of control, ending its mission ahead of time. SpaceX has landed the Starship in the Indian Ocean before, but in its last flight in January, and now on its latest test too, the spacecraft has suffered a catastrophic failure in flight.
