SpaceX has delayed the launch of its Starship rocket due to an engine malfunction that occurred shortly before the scheduled liftoff. The launch, which was supposed to take place at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas on Thursday, was called off when several of the rocket’s engines failed to ignite as planned. This issue triggered the spacecraft’s automatic abort system, leading the company to start the process of offloading fuel from the rocket.
The company is now aiming to reschedule the launch within the next few days, as engineers work to identify and resolve the cause of the engine problem. Starship plays a crucial role in Elon Musk’s broader vision to extend the Starlink satellite network, build space-based infrastructure, and achieve human missions to the Moon and Mars.
This mission was intended to be a significant test flight for the Starship rocket, marking its first major launch since SpaceX’s recent public stock offering. In response to the delay, the company’s shares experienced a decline of over 6 percent in early trading.
SpaceX has invested over $15 billion in the development of Starship, which is designed to be fully reusable. The spacecraft is also a key component of NASA’s future plans, as SpaceX is contracted to use Starship for upcoming lunar missions. However, several technical hurdles must still be overcome before the spacecraft is ready to safely transport astronauts.