SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket launched for its latest test flight at 5 p.m. ET, where the company didn’t catch its Super Heavy booster after takeoff.
Today’s mission marks SpaceX’s fastest turnaround yet, with new upgrades to the booster’s propulsion systems aiming for a smoother and faster catch using the launchpad’s “Mechazilla” claws.
President-elect Donald Trump attended the event with SpaceX CEO Elon Musk at the company’s Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas.
Follow The Post’s live updates on the Starship rocket launch:
Elon Musk's Super Heavy booster aborts 'Mechazilla' catch, splashes down after successful launch
SpaceX canceled the second attempt to catch its Super Heavy booster during Starship's sixth flight test.
While SpaceX hoped to catch lightning in a bottle again following last month's successful catch, the company opted for a water landing today after reviewing the flight data.
The booster rocket separated from Starship as planned and splashed down vertically in the Gulf of Mexico.
SpaceX previously said that if the proper criteria was not meant at the moment of separation, it would not risk a catch on Tuesday.
SpaceX's Starship takes off
SpaceX's massive Starship rocket took off from Boca Chica, Texas, in its sixth test flight.
Trump Jr. playfully teases daughter Kai by tapping on her head ahead of SpaceX launch
Donald Trump Jr. playfully teased his daughter Kai shortly before SpaceX's Starship launch on Tuesday.
Trump Jr. was seen tapping Kai's head while the two stood nearby the president-elect.
In response, Kai turned to her dad and said, "Stop it."
SpaceX's Starship will launch with its first physical payload -- a banana
SpaceX's Starship is set to launch with its first physical payload, a single banana.
SpaceX's livestream hosts explained that the banana will be used to show the effects of zero gravity inside Starship.
"This universally-accepted measurement of scale is approximately the size of one Starlink Mini," SpaceX posted on X, referencing its satellite program.
Fueling begins on Starship rocket system
SpaceX is moving along with loading fuel into Starship's rocket system, including its Super Heavy booster.
Super Heavy alone can hold up to 8 million pounds of propellant, according to the company, with the main Starship craft capable of holding another 3 million pounds.
Starship's system uses liquid methane and super-chilled liquid oxygen as its main propellant.
Lone worker on Starship shows incredible scale of massive rocket: video
Elon Musk shared a clip of a SpaceX worker working around the base of the massive Starship rocket prior to liftoff on Tuesday.
The worker stood by the 33 Raptor engines of the 397-foot tall rocket, which are capable of producing 16 million pounds of thrust.
"Each Raptor rocket engine produces twice as much thrust as all 4 engines on a 747," Musk touted on X.
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