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Texas – SpaceX scrubbed the planned launch of its 12th Starship rocket from its Texas site on Thursday, calling off the attempt just seconds before liftoff after multiple pauses in the countdown triggered by fuel temperature and pressure readings. Elon Musk later said on X that a hydraulic pin on one of the launch tower’s giant mechanical arms did not retract as designed, preventing the uncrewed Starship V3 from lifting off. The newest and largest version of the rocket carries dozens of upgrades aimed at enabling rapid Starlink satellite launches and supporting future NASA moon missions, and SpaceX said it would try again on Friday using a 90-minute launch window starting at 5:30 p.m. Central Time. Texas – The aborted launch followed months of testing delays and redesign work after a string of Starship failures last year, with SpaceX describing the V3 design as the next step in the program after those setbacks. The company has invested more than $15 billion in Starship development, according to a Reuters report, and views the vehicle as central to its strategy to cut launch costs, expand the Starlink business, and enable deep-space exploration and orbital data centers. Reuters reported that the test also carries weight for investor confidence as SpaceX moves toward a potential public listing targeting a valuation of about $1.75 trillion, while Starship remains a key element of NASA’s long-term exploration plans.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.