WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A SpaceX Starship prototype failed in space on Thursday minutes after launching from its rocket facilities in Texas, according to the company's live stream of the test mission.

SpaceX's Starship had lifted off from the company's Boca Chica, Texas, launch facilities and separated from its Super Heavy booster minutes later to continue into space.

The Starship upper stage had multiple upgrades and stood two meters (6.56 feet) taller than previous version. Shortly after reaching space, it was poised to deploy mock satellites for the first time.

The towering Super Heavy booster, meanwhile, returned to its launchpad roughly seven minutes later, slowing its descent from space by reigniting its Raptor engines as it hooked itself on giant mechanical arms fixed to a launch tower.

The landing success was SpaceX's second across three attempts.