SpaceX’s highly anticipated first launch of its Starship V3 megarocket was scrubbed tonight from the company’s Starbase site in South Texas. Technical issues during the final countdown forced the delay, pushing the debut flight to at least tomorrow.
The company had aimed to launch the Starship V3, a significantly upgraded version of its fully reusable vehicle, during a window between 6:30 p.m. EDT and 8 p.m. EDT (2230 to 0000 GMT). SpaceX communications official Dan Huot described the attempt as a “wet dress rehearsal,” noting that the vehicle was fully loaded. The team now plans to troubleshoot the issues for a potential liftoff Friday evening in the same time frame.
Pop star Nicki Minaj, known for her song “Starships,” was present at Starbase for the launch attempt. “This is historic. This is a major moment, y’all,” Minaj said during SpaceX’s webcast, expressing her excitement at witnessing a launch in person for the first time. She wore a Starship T-shirt for the event.
Starship's Next Iteration
Starship comprises two main stages: the Super Heavy booster and the Ship upper stage. SpaceX intends for the vehicle to facilitate lunar and Martian colonization, deploy its Starlink constellation, and support other ambitious space endeavors.
The megarocket remains under development. It first flew in April 2023 and has since completed ten suborbital test flights. This upcoming launch marks the 12th overall for the program and the first for the V3 variant, which represents a substantial overhaul designed to move the vehicle closer to operational status. It will also be the inaugural launch from Starbase’s upgraded Pad 2.
Future Missions and Competition
Pop star Nicki Minaj, known for her song “Starships,” was present at Starbase for the launch attempt.
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has stated that the V3 is the first Starship iteration capable of reaching the Moon and Mars. This variant is slated for NASA’s Artemis 3 mission, a docking test in Earth orbit, projected for mid to late 2027. It is also the vehicle expected to land astronauts on the Moon for Artemis 4 in late 2028.
Still, NASA is considering Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander as an alternative for these missions, potentially opting for whichever vehicle is ready first. SpaceX also announced a more ambitious crewed test flight for Starship: the world’s first private trip to Mars. Cryptocurrency billionaire Chun Wang, who financed a private polar spaceflight with SpaceX on a Dragon capsule called Fram2 in 2025, will lead a Mars flyby mission in the future, according to a company video. Wang stated, “A lot of people talk about Mars. We like Mars, we’re gonna land on Mars. We’re gonna do a city on Mars. But let’s get it started with a flyby.”
SpaceX called off the launch around 7:37 p.m. EDT (2337 GMT). Huot explained that holds at T-40 seconds can only last a few minutes before propellant temperatures rise, affecting launch conditions. One issue concerned the water diverter under the launch pad.
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