SpaceX’s gigantic Starship rocket has been “lost” just minutes into its seventh test flight.

The 400ft rocket – the biggest and most powerful in the world – soared from Boca Chica, south Texas, on Thursday around 4.40pm local time (10.40pm in the UK).

Just minutes after the rocket launched, its booster made its planned return to the ground and after momentarily hovering over the launchpad, it was spectacularly caught between two giant mechanical arms.

It’s the second time SpaceX has managed this particular feat.

However, as crowds cheered the booster’s return, the company said it had lost contact with Starship as the engines went out.

A host on SpaceX’s livestream soon confirmed: “At this point in time, we can confirm we did lose the ship.

“It looks like we lost contact a little under eight and a half minutes into the flight.”

“It was great to see a booster come down, but we are obviously bummed out about ship,” SpaceX spokesman Dan Huot said, adding it will take time to analyse the data and figure out what went wrong.

The last data received from Starship indicated an altitude of 90 miles and a velocity of 13,245 mph.

The flight was the seventh test run for the newly-upgraded Starship, and marked the next step in Elon Musk’s bid to build the first fully reusable spacecraft to get humans to Mars.

“Every Starship launch is one more step closer towards Mars,” he said on X before liftoff.

The Starship prototype had been modified significantly since its sixth test flight in November.

It was due to soar across the Gulf of Mexico on a near-loop around the world and SpaceX had packed it with dummy satellites, so it could practice releasing them.

Ahead of the launch, Musk’s company also upgraded the booster ‘catch’ tower after it was damaged during a previous test flight in November.

It’s not the first time a SpaceX Starship has been lost during a test flight. In November 2023, the company’s second attempt at launching its mega rocket ended abruptly when the vessel was lost following explosions.

Visionary film director David Lynch – behind hits such as Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive – has died at the age of 78, his family has said.

A post shared on the filmmaker’s Facebook page reads: “It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch. We would appreciate some privacy at this time.”

Referencing Lynch’s advice for budding creatives, the statement continues: “There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us.

“But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the doughnut and not on the hole’.”

“It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way,” it concludes, in a nod to weather reports the director posted on YouTube.

Lynch’s death comes just days before his 79th birthday. The cause has not been shared, but Lynch had spoken publicly about his battle with emphysema.

Hollywood pays tribute to its ‘brilliant maverick’

A number of famous faces have paid tribute to Lynch, including Twins Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan.

Alongside an Instagram carousel showing pictures of himself and Lynch through the years, the actor wrote: “I always found him to be the most authentically alive person I’d ever met.

“David was in tune with the universe and his own imagination on a level that seemed to be the best version of human.

“While the world has lost a remarkable artist, I’ve lost a dear friend who imagined a future for me and allowed me to travel in worlds I could never have conceived on my own.”

Nicolas Cage, who starred in Lynch’s 1990 road trip movie Wild At Heart, said in a statement: “David was a singular genius in cinema, one of the greatest artists of this or any time.

“He was brave, brilliant, and a maverick with a joyful sense of humour. I never had more fun on a film set than working with David Lynch. He will always be solid gold.”

In a statement issued to Variety, Steven Spielberg recalled casting Lynch in his semi-autobiographical 2022 film, The Fabelmans.

“I got to know David when he played John Ford in The Fabelmans,” he said.

“Here was one of my heroes – David Lynch – playing one of my heroes. It was surreal and seemed like a scene out of one of David’s own movies.

“The world is going to miss such an original and unique voice. His films have already stood the test of time and they always will.”

Lynch began making short films in the late 1960s and his first feature-length movie – the surreal Eraserhead – was released in 1977.

His most notable projects include The Elephant Man, and neo-noirs Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet – all of which earned him Oscar nominations. In 2019, he received an honorary Academy Award for his lifetime achievements.

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Lynch’s success extended to the small screen and Twin Peaks, co-created with writer Mark Frost, is considered a cult classic.

Set in the titular fictional town, the Emmy-winning series follows the investigation into the death of local teenager Laura Palmer.

The drama debuted in 1990 and ran for two seasons. A much-hyped revival, set 25 years after the original, aired in 2017.

In his later years, Lynch devoted himself to making short films, documentaries, albums and music videos, as well as painting and posting on his YouTube channel.

A new portrait of Donald Trump has been released ahead of his inauguration – with his expression and head angle appearing similar to the ones he gave in a police mugshot in 2023.

In the latest photo, the US president-elect can be seen staring seriously into the camera, with a slightly furrowed brow. He is wearing an American flag lapel pin.

Mr Trump‘s pose bears a resemblance to the famous image of him taken by authorities in Georgia in August 2023, after he was booked on charges relating to the accusation he conspired to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state.

It was the first time a former US president had ever had their mugshot taken. It’s unclear if the likeness between Mr Trump’s new portrait and the infamous photo was intentional.

A new portrait of soon-to-be vice president JD Vance has also been unveiled, with the former marine standing with his arms folded and smiling for the camera.

The pair will be sworn in on Monday and with preparations for the ceremony in the final stages, the two men posed for the photos to mark the occasion.

The new images were sent to the media with the email subject line ‘Official Portraits Released – And They Go Hard’ accompanied by a fire emoji.

Mr Trump and Mr Vance will be sworn in as president and vice president respectively at the inauguration in Washington DC on Monday.

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After they take their oaths, Mr Trump will give the first presidential address of his second term.

Performers at the event will include country star Carrie Underwood, who is singing the national anthem.

Outgoing President Joe Biden – who on Wednesday gave his farewell address – will be among those in attendance and he’s invited Mr Trump to the White House on the morning of the inauguration.

The three other living former US presidents – Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton – are also expected to attend.

It’s usually rare for the group to unite at public events but this will be the second time they have done so this month.

The former presidents attended Jimmy Carter’s funeral just a week ago. Prior to this, the last time they publicly gathered together was in 2018.