SpaceX canceled the Starship launch just moments before liftoff due to a malfunction
The American company SpaceX postponed the 13th test flight of the Starship launch vehicle at the last minute. The reason was that some of the Super Heavy rocket’s 33 engines failed to ignite on time.
The SpaceX team halted the launch procedure to check the systems and resolve any potential technical issues. A new launch date will be determined following further analysis.
“Some engines failed to ignite, which led to an automatic abort of the launch,” Musk wrote on X.
However, he did not disclose how many of the Super Heavy rocket’s engines failed to ignite.
“To ensure a successful flight, two Raptor engines will be removed and replaced. The most likely launch time is early next week,” Musk added.
The launch was aborted less than a second before the scheduled launch of Starship from the Starbase launch site in southern Texas on the night of July 17.
It is reported that the rocket’s engines initially fired up but shut down shortly thereafter.
Shares of SpaceX, which went public last month, fell by about 3% in after-hours trading following the canceled launch.
On Thursday, the stock closed at $131.11, marking the first time since its IPO (initial public offering) that it closed below its IPO price of $135.
This was reported by Reuters.
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