SpaceX launched its Starship mega-rocket from Texas on its 13th test flight, carrying 20 upgraded Starlink satellites.
The 13th Starship Test Flight and Starlink Deployment
The towering 122-meter launch vehicle lifted off from the company’s Starbase facility in Texas for its 13th test flight, according to regional reporting. The flight carried the first 20 upgraded Starlink internet satellites into suborbital space as part of the company’s efforts to begin routine service by the end of the year.
The mission used a new version of the rocket to expand the network and support future space missions, including transporting humans to the lunar surface for NASA by 2028 and deploying satellites dedicated to artificial intelligence applications sharjah24.ae. The entire test flight lasted about an hour and concluded with the spacecraft returning through Earth’s atmosphere.
Last-Second Engine Failure and Aborted Launch
The mission followed a dramatic near-miss earlier in the test schedule. SpaceX canceled the launch of a Starship rocket at the final second after several of its 33 engines failed to ignite, though Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk anticipated another attempt early next week in regional coverage.
The cancellation occurred less than a second before the scheduled liftoff from Starbase in southern Texas, set for 5:45 p.m. local time (22:45 GMT). The rocket’s engines ignited briefly before shutting down shortly after.
Some engines did not work, which led to the launch process being automatically stopped. Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer, via Annahar
Musk did not disclose the exact number of malfunctioning engines. He added that to ensure a successful flight, two Raptor engines would be removed and replaced, with the next launch attempt likely scheduled for early next week.
Market Response and Financial Pressures
The company’s stock, which listed on the exchange the previous month, fell by roughly 3 percent in after-hours trading following the launch cancellation according to market data. The shares closed at $131.11, dipping below their initial public offering price of $135 for the first time since listing.
Next Steps for the Starship Program
As engineers swap out the Raptor engines in Texas, the focus turns to the coming days. The company intends to reattempt its launch sequence early next week while maintaining its timeline to operationalize regular service and fulfill long-term heavy-lift obligations for federal space partners.
