SpaceX has delayed the launch of its Starship rocket due to an engine issue that caused the mission to be aborted just before liftoff. The planned launch from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas on Thursday was interrupted when several engines failed to ignite, triggering the automatic abort system and leading the company to begin offloading fuel.
The company announced intentions to attempt another launch in the coming days, as engineers work to identify and resolve the engine malfunction. The Starship rocket is integral to SpaceX’s broader ambitions, which include expanding the Starlink satellite network, developing space infrastructure, and eventually facilitating human missions to the Moon and Mars.
This mission was supposed to mark the rocket’s first major test flight since SpaceX’s recent public stock offering. Following the postponement, shares of the company experienced a more than 6 percent drop in early trading, reflecting investor reactions to the delay.
SpaceX has invested over $15 billion in the development of Starship, which is designed for full reusability. Additionally, the company holds contracts with NASA to use the spacecraft for upcoming lunar missions. However, several technical hurdles must still be overcome before astronauts can safely travel aboard the vehicle.