SpaceX launches Starship rocket from Texas but aborts booster catch attempt

SpaceX launched a Starship rocket from Texas on Tuesday but did not attempt to catch the booster with mechanical arms, unlike last month’s successful test. The booster was instead directed to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico. The flight director called off the catch four minutes into the flight due to unspecified reasons. The Starship spacecraft completed a near-global loop before splashing down in the Indian Ocean after an hour-long test. This launch marked the sixth test of the Starship, which aims to support future missions to the Moon and Mars. New objectives included igniting an engine in space and testing thermal protection systems.