SpaceX Aborts Starship Launch in Countdown; Musk Cites Engine Failure

SpaceX aborted the 13th test flight of its massive Starship rocket on Thursday moments before ignition, as computer systems automatically halted the launch sequence. The company is investigating the cause of the shutdown that occurred precisely at liftoff.

Founder and CEO Elon Musk attributed the cancellation to "some engines not starting," which triggered the automatic abort, but offered no further details on the specific malfunction. This advanced abort prevented the launch from proceeding and necessitated the unloading of the rocket's liquid methane and liquid oxygen fuel.

The launch, initially scheduled for 6:45 p.m. local time, was intended to test the performance of the third iteration of the powerful rocket, particularly its Super Heavy booster. The mission also aimed to successfully separate the stages, have the Super Heavy booster perform engine re-ignitions during its return and landing phase, and land on a platform in the Gulf of Mexico.

This flight was notable for being the first to carry the new generation of Starlink V3 satellites. Despite the setback, SpaceX anticipates making another launch attempt within days. The Starship program is crucial for NASA's Artemis mission to the moon, which has been rescheduled to mid-2027 partly due to development delays.