Overview
- SpaceX automatically stopped the 13th Starship test at ignition after some Raptor engines failed to start, halting the launch sequence at the pad on July 16.
- Elon Musk said two Raptor engines will be removed and replaced and that the company aims to attempt the launch again within days or early next week.
- The flight was to exercise full mission steps including stage separation, a controlled booster return, in-orbit Raptor relight and deployment of 20 Starlink V3 satellites.
- SpaceX made hardware and software changes after a May flight in which Super Heavy booster engine problems prevented a controlled return and the booster was lost at sea.
- The abort raises fresh operational and market scrutiny because SpaceX recently listed publicly and holds a NASA contract to adapt Starship as a lunar lander, which could put pressure on schedules for commercial launches and program testing.