SPACEX STARSHIP ROCKET BOoster Splashes Down in Gulf of Mexico Despite Failed Capture Attempt

Houston, TX - In a disappointing turn of events for Elon Musk's ambitious space program, the booster of a recent SpaceX Starship rocket launch splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday rather than being retrieved with its massive mechanical arms.

According to officials at SpaceX, the test flight from Texas was called off just four minutes after liftoff due to unspecified reasons. The backup plan to catch the booster with the giant arms failed to materialize.

The catch was originally scheduled for a successful deployment around 8:55 AM Central Time (CST) but never came to pass as intended. The booster, carrying out its intended trajectory in an unpressurized test of rocket descent into the Gulf, hit the water just three minutes later than expected.

"We did not achieve all of the criteria that we required for a successful booster catch," said Dan Huot, a spokesman for SpaceX. "As such, the flight director elected to terminate the recovery plan and let the booster continue on its intended course, which was splashdown in the Gulf."

Despite the setback, SpaceX officials assured that they were 'back on track' with their Starship program, but an updated timeline or new details for the mission could be forthcoming.

This latest development is a reminder of the complexities and challenges involved in testing reusable rockets like the Starship program that aim to transform the space travel industry.