SpaceX drops booster catch attempt during Starship's sixth test flight due to communication loss

SpaceX did not attempt to catch the booster of its Starship rocket during its sixth test flight due to a loss of communication with the launch tower computer. CEO Elon Musk stated that they chose caution over uncertainty. The booster, which launched on November 19, was instead splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico, where it exploded. SpaceX explained that automated health checks triggered the decision to abort the catch attempt. In previous tests, SpaceX successfully caught the booster. For future flights, the company plans another ocean landing before attempting to catch the booster with the launch tower again.