SpaceX's Starship rocket aborted its 13th flight test just seconds before liftoff in Texas on Thursday after some of its 33 engines failed to start. CEO Elon Musk said the company is likely to make another launch attempt early next week.
The rocket's engines ignited but shut down shortly afterwards, forcing SpaceX to cancel the planned launch at 5:45 p.m. CT (2245 GMT).
SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot said the company had initiated a hold on the booster while starting the Raptor engines, leading to the aborted liftoff.
“Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort,” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said in a post on X. He did not specify how many engines failed but said two Raptor engines would be removed and replaced before the next attempt.
“To be confident of a good flight, 2 Raptors will be removed & replaced. Most probable launch timing is early next week,” Musk added.
The launch setback comes as Starship plays a central role in NASA's plans to return astronauts to the Moon. The space agency has selected SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin to develop lunar landers for future Artemis missions.
Both companies are expected to have their lunar vehicles - SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon - ready for upcoming missions.
NASA plans to use one of these landers for the Artemis III mission, which aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years.
Shares of SpaceX, which went public last month, fell about 3% in after-hours trading following the launch cancellation.
The stock closed at $131.11 on Thursday, dropping below its $135 initial public offering price for the first time since listing.
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