Elon Musk’s SpaceX postponed the much-anticipated test launch of its upgraded Starship megarocket on Thursday after engineers encountered technical issues during the countdown.
The company said it is now
targeting Friday evening for another launch attempt of the third-generation version of Starship, the world’s largest rocket system.
After several countdown pauses and restarts, SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot said teams would not be able to resolve the issue in time for liftoff.
Musk later said on X that the problem involved a hydraulic mechanism.
“The hydraulic pin holding the tower arm in place did not retract,” Musk wrote.
He added that if the issue is fixed overnight, SpaceX would attempt another launch at 5:30 pm local time on Friday.
The delayed launch comes at a significant moment for SpaceX. Just one day earlier, the company filed paperwork with US regulators to go public in what analysts expect could become one of the largest initial public offerings (IPOs) in history.
The filing is expected to give potential investors insight into SpaceX’s finances, strategy and future growth plans.
The upcoming mission will mark Starship’s 12th test flight and the first in seven months.
The latest version of the rocket is larger than previous designs, standing more than 124 metres tall when fully assembled.
SpaceX says the mission’s primary objective is to test upgrades and redesigns made to the vehicle.
Under the planned flight profile, the Super Heavy booster is expected to splash down in ocean waters after separation, while the upper stage would deploy 20 mock satellites along with two modified Starlink satellites equipped with cameras to examine the spacecraft’s heat shield.
If successful, the upper stage would continue on a suborbital path before landing in the Indian Ocean after a mission lasting around 65 minutes.
Although recent Starship tests have been considered successful, earlier launches ended in dramatic explosions, including failures over the Caribbean and another during a ground test last year.
The latest test is also closely watched by NASA, which has contracted SpaceX to develop a modified Starship vehicle for future Moon missions under the Artemis programme.
NASA aims to return astronauts to the Moon before the end of 2028, while China has set a target of landing astronauts on the lunar surface by 2030.
Experts say major engineering challenges remain before those goals can be achieved, including proving Starship’s ability to refuel in orbit — a capability considered essential for deep-space missions.
Former NASA official G. Scott Hubbard said “there’s a lot riding” on the upcoming test, noting both government agencies and private companies are under pressure to deliver.
The delayed launch highlights the high stakes surrounding Starship, not only for SpaceX’s ambitions and prospective IPO, but also for the future of US lunar exploration.
