SpaceX aborts giant Starship rocket launch at the last minute

SpaceX was forced to halt the highly anticipated test launch of its massive Starship rocket just moments before liftoff. The planned 13th test flight was scheduled for early Friday morning, Swedish time, but encountered a critical issue.

An automatic system triggered the abort sequence when several engines failed to ignite properly. "Some of the engines did not start, which triggered an automatic abort of the launch," SpaceX CEO Elon Musk explained on the platform X. Following the abort, the company began the process of emptying the rocket's propellant.

SpaceX is now targeting a new launch attempt in the coming days. This latest setback highlights the complexities and challenges inherent in developing the Starship, which is intended for interplanetary travel and other ambitious space missions.

The Starship program represents a significant effort by SpaceX to revolutionize spaceflight, aiming for reusable spacecraft capable of carrying large payloads and numerous passengers to Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars. Each test flight provides valuable data for refining the rocket's design and operational procedures.