@X) SpaceX had packed the spacecraft with 10 dummy satellites for practice at releasing them. A minute before the loss, SpaceX used the launch tower's giant mechanical arms to catch the returning booster, a feat achieved only once before. The descending booster hovered over the launch pad before being gripped by the pair of arms dubbed chopsticks. The thrill of the catch quickly turned into disappointment for not only the company, but the crowds gathered along the southern tip of Texas. "It was great to see a booster come down, but we are obviously bummed out about ship," said SpaceX spokesman Dan Huot. "It's a flight test. It's an experimental vehicle," he stressed. The last data received from the spacecraft indicated an altitude of 90 miles (146km) and a velocity of 13,245 mph (21,317 kph). Musk said a preliminary analysis suggests leaking fuel may have built up pressure in a cavity above the engine firewall. Fire suppression will be added to the area, with increased venting and double-checking for leaks, he said via X. The 400-foot (123m) rocket had thundered away in late afternoon from Boca Chica Beach near the Mexican border. The late hour ensured a daylight entry halfway around the world in the Indian Ocean, but the shiny retro-looking spacecraft never got nearly that far. Starship raining over the sky in Turks and Caicos ( Image: