SpaceX postponed Starship’s 10th launch on Monday (25 August) due to cloudy weather in Texas, another setback in the rocket’s reusable Mars-focused design.

The 232-foot Super Heavy booster and its 171-foot Starship upper half, were filled with millions of pounds of propellant and ready for liftoff when SpaceX called off the launch around 8:00 p.m. EST (0000 GMT).

A liquid oxygen leak had also forced SpaceX to cancel Sunday’s attempt, CEO Elon Musk said on X.

Speaking briefly on SpaceX’s livestream, Musk highlighted Starship’s role in ferrying humans to Mars.

Developments have faced repeated setbacks this year, including early flight failures and a June test stand explosion that scattered debris into nearby Mexico.

Musk has long promoted Starship’s reusable design, which features increased thrust, a reinforced heat shield, and advanced steering flaps for atmospheric reentry.

The rocket must also demonstrate payload deployment, safe returns, and in-space refuelling to meet NASA’s moon mission objectives planned as early as 2027.

“In about 6 or 7 years, there will be days where Starship launches more than 24 times in 24 hours,” Musk said Sunday on X.

When it does fly, Starship will separate from its booster, which returns to a water landing off the Texas coast, while the upper stage ignites engines to continue into space.

The mission will include deploying mock Starlink satellites and testing reentry systems over the Indian Ocean.

The next attempt is scheduled for Tuesday (26 August), 7:30pm ET (2130 GMT). 

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