“Chopsticks” caught the booster as it returned to base. SPACEX/AFP via Getty Images The Elon Musk-owned company delighted stargazers last October during its fifth test when it completed the first successful catch of the booster rockets, with Starship itself completing a successful entry in the Indian Ocean. The following launch — which then President-elect Donald Trump and his family watched from Starbase — saw SpaceX abort the catch attempt, forcing the boosters to make a splash down in the gulf. The seventh test, however, saw the company complete its second-ever catch, but the mission was far from a success as it resulted in the destruction of the main Starship rocket. That updated Starship experienced a propellant leak during its ascent, causing it to break apart and explode over the Atlantic Ocean, with its burning debris visible from the Turks and Caicos islands. Starship is designed to be fully and rapidly reusable, saving SpaceX significantly on cost and resources, which would aid the company in reaching its ultimate goal of pioneering travel to the Moon and Mars. Filed under