Science & Space
SpaceX delays Starship test after engine abort
SpaceX scrubbed a planned Starship test flight on Thursday, calling it off just as the booster began to ignite. Company head Elon Musk wrote on X that some engines did not start, triggering an automatic launch abort, and that the company was offloading propellant.
Musk later said two Raptor engines would be removed and replaced. He said the most probable timing for another launch attempt was early next week.
The flight was intended to be Starship's 13th overall test flight. When it takes off, its aims are expected to be similar to a mostly successful flight in May that introduced the latest third-generation Starship model. That earlier flight was meant to demonstrate new designs in flight, but it also had problems, including Super Heavy booster engine issues that led to a crash into the Gulf of Mexico instead of a precision return.
SpaceX said it had made several hardware and software changes to address issues seen on the previous flight. On the next attempt, the company aims to carry out launch, ascent, stage separation, a boostback burn and an offshore booster landing burn without problems.
The upper stage is planned to deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites. SpaceX also said it would test relighting a Raptor engine in space and test upgrades to Starship's heat shield.
The flight would be the first Starship launch since Musk's SpaceX went public on Wall Street in June in a record initial public offering. SpaceX stock closed Thursday at $131.11, below its $135 IPO price.
SpaceX has expanded its satellite internet service and has described ambitions for AI data centres in space. The company is also under contract with NASA to develop a modified version of Starship for use as a lunar landing system.
Update
Elon Musk said two Raptor engines would be removed and replaced.
Musk said the most probable launch timing was early next week.
The flight would be Starship's 13th overall test flight.
SpaceX said it made several hardware and software changes after issues on the previous flight.
The next attempt is intended to include launch, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn and an offshore booster landing burn.
The upper stage is planned to deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites, test a Raptor relight in space and test heat-shield upgrades.
The flight would be the first Starship flight since SpaceX went public in June.
SpaceX stock closed Thursday at $131.11, below its $135 IPO price.
SpaceX is under contract with NASA to develop a modified Starship as a lunar landing system.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 July 2026 at 05:10:58 UTC.
Update
SpaceX scrubbed the Starship test flight just as the booster began to ignite.
Elon Musk said some engines did not start, triggering an automatic launch abort.
Musk said propellant was being offloaded and that the next launch attempt would hopefully happen in a few days.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 July 2026 at 23:10:34 UTC.
Update
SpaceX said Thursday afternoon that the launch remained on track, while weather or technical issues could still delay it.
The flight aims are similar to a mostly successful May test of Starship's third-generation model.
The May flight had engine issues with the Super Heavy booster, leading to a crash into the Gulf of Mexico instead of a precision return.
SpaceX said it made hardware and software changes to address issues from the previous flight.
The planned test includes launch, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn and offshore booster landing burn.
The upper stage is planned to deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites.
SpaceX said it will test a Raptor engine relight in space and upgrades to Starship's heat shield.
The flight comes one month after SpaceX went public on Wall Street with a record initial public offering.
Source note: AFP news report published on 16 July 2026 at 20:35:12 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The exact date of the next launch attempt was not confirmed.
The source did not state whether further issues could affect the launch schedule.
Source
AFP news report published on .