SpaceX aborts Starship rocket catch attempt as Musk and Trump observe

SpaceX has canceled its attempt to catch the Starship rocket using a "chopsticks" system. The Super Heavy booster instead splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico, watched by Elon Musk and President-elect Donald Trump. This abort marks a setback for Musk's goal of making Starship quickly reusable for missions to the Moon and Mars. The catch system had worked successfully in a previous test in October. SpaceX cited safety concerns for the decision to abort. Other parts of the test flight are proceeding as planned, with a splashdown attempt for the main craft expected in the Indian Ocean shortly after launch.