For the second time, SpaceX used giant mechanical arms to catch its Starship rocket back at the pad minutes after liftoff Thursday.

At the same time, the empty spacecraft launched from Texas soared across the Gulf of Mexico on a near loop around the world similar to previous test flights.

SpaceX spokesman Dan Huot said mission managers lost communication with the spacecraft and were troubleshooting. This time, Elon Musk’s SpaceX packed it with 10 dummy satellites for practice at releasing them.

It was the stunning booster catch on Musk’s first try that wowed space fans in October and again Thursday. The descending booster hovered over the launch pad before being gripped by a pair of mechanical arms dubbed chopsticks.

The company insisted everything had to be perfect for the booster to return to the launch site. This booster was the first to use a recycled engine — one from October’s successful catch.

The 400-foot rocket thundered away in late afternoon from Boca Chica Beach, Texas, near the Mexican border. The late hour ensured a daylight entry halfway around the world.

Skimming space, the shiny retro-looking spacecraft — intended by Musk as ship to the moon and Mars — targeted the Indian Ocean for a controlled but destructive end to the hour-long demo.

SpaceX beefed up the catch tower after November’s launch ended up damaging sensors on the robotic arms, forcing the team to forgo a capture attempt. That booster was steered into the gulf instead.