SpaceX aborts Starship Flight 13 launch attempt - SpaceNews
SpaceX aborted the launch of Starship Flight 13 due to an engine ignition failure during the pre-launch sequence. The company plans to replace two Raptor engines and attempt the launch again in the coming days.
Why it matters
Starship is a critical component of NASA's Artemis program and SpaceX's long-term goals for satellite deployment and interplanetary travel.
WASHINGTON — SpaceX aborted the launch of its latest Starship test flight July 16 when some of the vehicle’s engines failed to ignite.
Starship was scheduled to lift off on the Flight 13 mission from the company’s Starbase, Texas, test site at 6:45 p.m. Eastern. However, the launch was aborted just as Raptor engines in the Super Heavy booster ignited. SpaceX said moments later that it was calling off the launch attempt for the day.
“Some of the engines didn’t start, triggering an automatic launch abort,” SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk posted on social media about 10 minutes after the abort. “Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days.”
“To be confident of a good flight, 2 Raptors will be removed & replaced. Most probable launch timing is early next week,” he posted later.
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