Starship Launch SCRUBBED! SpaceX Aborts 13th Test After Engine Glitch
Starship Launch SCRUBBED! SpaceX Aborts 13th Test After Engine Glitch
SpaceX's highly anticipated Starship test flight was dramatically aborted moments before liftoff due to engine issues. What's next for Elon Musk's rocket?
SpaceX's thirteenth Starship test flight was dramatically scrubbed on Thursday, July 17, 2026, moments before liftoff, after some of its powerful Raptor engines failed to ignite. The abrupt abort occurred just as the booster was beginning its ignition sequence at the Boca Chica launch site in Texas.
Company head Elon Musk swiftly took to X (formerly Twitter) to confirm the issue. "Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort. Now offloading propellant," Musk posted. He later added, "To be confident of a good flight, 2 Raptors will be removed and replaced. Most probable launch timing is early next week." This marks another delay for the ambitious reusable rocket system.
This flight was particularly significant as it was the first planned mission since SpaceX went public in June with a record-breaking initial public offering (IPO) of $135. On Thursday, SpaceX stock closed at $131.11, just below its IPO price, highlighting the high stakes surrounding the company's endeavors.
The aborted launch was intended to build on the progress of the third-generation Starship's mostly successful voyage in May. That previous test demonstrated new designs but experienced glitches, including engine issues with the Super Heavy booster, which led to an intentional crash in the Gulf of Mexico instead of a precision return. SpaceX stated that it had made "several modifications to hardware and software to address issues seen on the previous flight."
When the Starship eventually takes to the skies, SpaceX aims to achieve a flawless sequence of events: a successful launch, ascent, stage separation, boostback burn, and a precision landing burn of the booster offshore. The upper stage is also slated to deploy 20 Starlink V3 satellites, test a Raptor engine relight in space, and validate upgrades to Starship's heat shield. Beyond its commercial internet service, SpaceX also harbors lofty ambitions for AI data centers in space and holds a contract with NASA to produce a modified Starship for lunar missions.
