SpaceX\u2019s Starship rocket exploded just minutes into its seventh test flight, an unexpected setback after the Elon Musk-led company had made steady progress advancing the vehicle\u2019s capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the top section of the rocket was lost, SpaceX succeeded in another complicated manoeuvre, bringing the spacecraft\u2019s Super Heavy lower portion back down to Earth and catching it in midair using giant mechanical arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\u00a0largest and most powerful<\/a>\u00a0rocket ever built lifted off the launchpad at SpaceX\u2019s Starbase facility in Texas at 4:37 p.m. local time Thursday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was supposed to attempt to reach near orbital speeds and deploy 10\u00a0dummy spacecraft<\/a>, designed to mimic the size, shape and weight of the upgraded SpaceX Starlink satellites that Starship will be launching in the future.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was to be the first time Starship attempted to deploy cargo in space, an important milestone in readying the rocket for operational use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But a little over 8 minutes into the mission, SpaceX lost communications with Starship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n