SpaceX halted its 13th Starship flight test less than one second before liftoff from Starbase, Texas, after several engines failed to ignite. The company plans to remove and replace two Raptor engines before preparing another launch attempt.
The automated abort occurred at the beginning of the Super Heavy booster’s engine ignition sequence. Flames were briefly visible beneath the rocket before they went out, leaving Starship on the launch pad.
Automatic Abort Triggered During Ignition
Elon Musk said the launch was automatically aborted because multiple engines did not start. He provided the explanation in a post on X on Thursday (16/7) local time.
“Several engines did not start, which triggered an automatic launch abort,” Musk said. SpaceX has not disclosed the exact number of Super Heavy booster engines that encountered the issue.
The planned liftoff time was 5:45 p.m. local time. Instead, the hold was called while the Raptor ignition process had only just begun.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Flight test | Starship’s 13th flight |
| Launch site | Starbase, Texas |
| Abort timing | Less than one second before liftoff |
| Scheduled liftoff | 5:45 p.m. local time |
| Follow-up action | Two Raptor engines to be removed and replaced |
Replacement Work Before Another Attempt
Musk said two Raptor engines would be removed and replaced to help ensure a smoother flight. He indicated that a relaunch could most likely be scheduled for early next week.
The next launch date remains dependent on the engine replacement work and the readiness of the launch system. Starship and the Super Heavy booster will undergo further preparations before SpaceX confirms a new schedule.
SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot described the event during the company’s livestream shortly after the launch was stopped. He said the hold on the booster ultimately led to the cancellation of liftoff.
“We did have a hold on the booster that ultimately resulted in a scrubbed liftoff as we were just beginning to light the Raptor engines,” Huot said. His account placed the problem in the initial ignition phase, before Starship had left the pad.
Share Price Fell After the Scrub
The canceled test also coincided with a decline in SpaceX shares in after-hours trading. Reuters, as cited by CNN Indonesia, reported that the company’s shares fell by about 3 percent.
SpaceX shares closed at US$131.11 on Thursday. That was the first time the price had fallen below the US$135 initial public offering price since the company began trading on the stock exchange last month.
The market decline came on the same day as the aborted Starship test. Even so, the company has left open the prospect of another attempt after the two Raptor engines are replaced.
SpaceX has not provided a precise relaunch time. The final decision will depend on the results of the engine work and the overall readiness of the vehicle and launch infrastructure.
