SpaceX on Thursday scrubbed the launch of its 12th Starship rocket from Texas after technical issues interrupted the countdown just seconds before liftoff. The company said it will attempt another launch on Friday.

The uncrewed Starship V3 mission was expected to serve as a major test flight for the upgraded rocket system, which features dozens of design improvements aimed at rapid deployment of Starlink satellites and future NASA moon missions.

According to SpaceX founder Elon Musk, the launch was halted after a hydraulic pin connected to one of the launch tower’s giant mechanical arms failed to retract properly. Multiple pauses in the countdown had also been triggered by unusual fuel temperature and pressure readings.

“If that can be fixed tonight, there will be another launch attempt tomorrow at 5:30 CT,” Musk wrote on X.

SpaceX has spent more than $15 billion developing the fully reusable Starship system, which is central to Musk’s ambitions of lowering launch costs, expanding the Starlink satellite network and supporting long-term deep-space exploration projects.

The V3 rocket was introduced after a series of Starship failures last year, prompting months of redesigns and testing delays. The latest mission was seen as a crucial step in restoring confidence in the programme and demonstrating the vehicle’s reliability.

Ahead of the launch attempt, Musk sought to downplay concerns over a possible setback, saying the company has multiple V3 ships and boosters already in production. He added that even if the test failed, it would not delay future Starship launches by more than a month.

SpaceX is known for its aggressive flight-testing approach, often pushing new spacecraft to their limits before refining designs through repeated launches and failures.

Source: India Today