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SpaceX delayed the debut launch of its upgraded Starship V3 rocket on Thursday after last-minute technical problems stopped the countdown at its Starbase site in South Texas.
The company now plans another attempt on Friday during a 90-minute window that opens at 5:30 p.m. Central Time, or 22:30 GMT. The test comes as SpaceX moves toward a planned public listing that could draw strong investor attention.
Engineers paused the countdown several times before SpaceX called off the uncrewed test. The checks focused on launch-system readings and tower equipment close to liftoff. Elon Musk later wrote on X that a hydraulic pin holding one of the launch tower arms in place had failed to retract.
Musk framed the next attempt in conditional terms, saying, “If that can be fixed tonight, there will be another launch attempt tomorrow.” This indicated that SpaceX still needed to resolve the hardware issue before moving ahead with the Friday launch.
Starship V3 marks the latest design of SpaceX’s fully reusable rocket system. SpaceX has described Starship as the most powerful launch system ever developed, with the V3 version designed to carry about 100 metric tons of payload. Future versions aim to raise that capacity.
The vehicle includes upgrades meant to support faster Starlink satellite launches and NASA moon missions. The test mission also plans to carry mock satellites and specially modified Starlink satellites with cameras to study the spacecraft’s heat shield. If the mission proceeds as planned, the upper stage will follow a suborbital path and splash down in the Indian Ocean.
The launch delay came just after SpaceX filed documents for a planned initial public offering. The company is targeting a high market value, and Starship forms a central part of the growth story. A successful test could support confidence before the investor roadshow.
SpaceX reported $18.6 billion in revenue last year, while it posted a net loss of $4.9 billion. In the first quarter of this year, the company reported $4.7 billion in sales and a net loss of $4.3 billion. The filing also showed heavy spending as SpaceX develops rockets, Starlink, and other businesses.
Starship matters to NASA’s Artemis program. NASA selected SpaceX to develop a version of Starship as a human landing system for future moon missions. The agency’s revised plan aims to test lunar lander systems in orbit before a crewed landing attempt later in the decade.
However, Starship still has technical steps to prove. One major task is in-orbit refueling with very cold propellant, which remains essential for deep-space missions. Musk said, “There is a large pipeline of V3 ships and boosters in the factory.”
The Friday attempt will provide investors and NASA another look at whether Starship V3 can move from testing toward regular flight operations.
Also Read: SpaceX Reports $4.69B Q1 Revenue Ahead of IPO Filing and Investor Roadshow
