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SpaceX Starship launch abort leads to engine swap, next‑week try planned
SpaceX cancelled the 13th test flight of its Starship rocket at Starbase, Texas, when two Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster failed to ignite during the final countdown. The automatic safety system halted the launch before the vehicle left the pad, preventing a possible explosion.
Elon Musk announced on X that the two malfunctioning engines would be removed and replaced, and that a new launch attempt was expected early next week. The abort caused a dip in SpaceX’s share price, with investors reacting to the setback.
The Federal Aviation Administration had previously cleared the flight after investigating a May incident that saw five of the 33 booster engines fail to fire. The upcoming test will also target a controlled water landing of the Super Heavy stage and the deployment of third‑generation Starlink satellites.