SpaceX called off the latest test flight of its Starship mega rocket at the last minute on Monday. The world’s most powerful rocket was set to lift off from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, but the launch was abruptly cancelled due to technical concerns.
There were “too many question marks,” Elon Musk explained, citing a pressure issue with the ground spin start system. “Best to destack, inspect both stages and try again in a day or two,” he posted on X.
While no official rescheduled date has been confirmed, a SpaceX spokesperson mentioned that the next attempt could take place within 24 hours.
This marks Starship’s eighth orbital test flight and its first since a mid-air explosion over the Caribbean in January. The 403-foot (123-meter) rocket plays a crucial role in Musk’s long-term vision of cost-effective space travel and missions to Mars.
A modified version of Starship is also set to support NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had grounded Starship after its last test flight on January 16, when the upper stage disintegrated over the Turks and Caicos Islands, leaving debris scattered over the region. However, the FAA has recently allowed SpaceX to proceed with launches pending the final review of its investigation.
During the last test, airline flights over the Gulf of Mexico had to be diverted. Eight minutes after liftoff, SpaceX lost contact with the upper stage, leading to fiery debris over Haiti. SpaceX has since made several upgrades to improve reliability and performance.
For this upcoming test flight, SpaceX aims to catch the booster stage using the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms, a maneuver successfully executed in previous flights. The company will also deploy Starlink simulators, designed to mimic next-generation satellites, which will burn up upon re-entry. While SpaceX plans to eventually recover the upper stage, the current mission targets an ocean splashdown off the west coast of Australia.
Stay tuned for updates on the next launch attempt.
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