SpaceX Scrubs Launch of Upgraded Starship V3 From Texas
The upgraded megarocket was set to test new engines, larger tanks and satellite deployment before SpaceX scrubbed the first flight in months.
- SpaceX scrubbed the 12th test flight of its Starship V3 megarocket from South Texas today, calling off the mission seconds before lift-off due to fuel temperature and pressure readings.
- The V3 Starship features a design overhaul including Raptor engine upgrades, reworked hot-staging hardware, and shielding to protect engines, marking a significant evolution from previous Version prototypes.
- SpaceX intended to execute a safe launch and separate the Super Heavy booster, deploy 22 simulator satellites, and relight a Raptor engine, though the company cautioned success is not guaranteed.
- CEO Elon Musk reported a hydraulic pin on the Mechazilla launch tower failed to retract as designed; SpaceX plans another launch attempt on Saturday AEST pending successful repairs.
- This test supports NASA moon mission goals for 2028 and influences investor confidence in a potential $1.75 trillion IPO valuation, as Starship remains key to cutting launch costs and expanding Starlink.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Countdown aborted: After a series of failures the next one follows. The twelfth "Starship" rocket cannot take off due to technical problems.
SpaceX reveals reason for Starship v3 stand down, announces next launch date
SpaceX has decided to stand down from what was supposed to be the first test launch of Starship’s v3 rocket tonight after a minor issue with a hydraulic pin delayed the flight once more. The company scrubbed its first test flight of the upgraded Starship v3 on May 21 in the final minutes of the countdown. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk quickly took to social media platform X, explaining that a hydraulic pin on the launch tower’s “chopsticks” arm failed to…
SpaceX’s Giant Starship V3 Launch Faces Its Biggest Test Yet
SpaceX plans to launch its first Version 3 Starship from Starbase, Texas, on Thursday, with a 90-minute window opening at 5:30 p.m. local time. The 407-foot rocket, pairing Booster 19 and Ship 39, will attempt a suborbital flight with splashdowns in the Gulf of Mexico and Indian Ocean. The mission will release Starlink simulator satellites and test a Raptor engine relight in space. NASA is monitoring the flight ahead of Artemis lunar missions. T…
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