SpaceX assessing new launch date
Following the last-second scrub of last night’s Starship Flight 13 launch, SpaceX stood down from Thursday’s launch attempt.
It was not immediately clear what caused the automated abort, but SpaceX CEO Elon Musk posted to social media shortly after the launch was called off, saying a failure of a few of Straship’s Raptor 3 engines failed to light at ignition. “Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days,” Musk said in a post.
He clarified later yesterday evening, saying, “To be confident of a good flight, 2 Raptors will be removed & replaced. Most probable launch timing is early next week.”
SpaceX’s Starship Flight 13 test launch aborts at last second (video)
To be confident of a good flight, 2 Raptors will be removed & replaced. Most probable launch timing is early next week.July 17, 2026
SCRUB
SpaceX’s Starship Flight 13 is scrubbed for the day.
At T-0, the rocket’s automated flight computer initiated a hold and abort call. It isn’t immediately clear what caused the abort, but its execution so far into the countdown means a scrub for the day. “We did trigger a hold on the booster that aborted our liftoff as we were starting to light those Raptor engines,” SpaceX livestream host Dan Huot said.
“At this point,” Huot said as the coverage ended, “they’re going to get into [propellant] offload. We’re gonna get all the methane, all the oxygen off the vehicle, and then we’ll figure out next steps.”
A new launch date for Starship Flight 13 has not been determined.
T-1 minute to launch!
SpaceX has entered the terminal count for Starship! Just one minute to go until Starship Flight 13 liftoff! Let’s go!
SpaceX not tracking any issues
SpaceX is fueling Starship for Flight 13 right now, and is not tracking any issues as the opening of the launch window approaches. The day began with a 90% probability of favorable launch conditions, according the SpaceX livestream host Dan Huot, who is voicing confidence in the success of today’s mission.
According to SpaceX commentators, success on today’s mission will open the door for “near future orbital flights” and the first-ever attempt to catch Starship’s Ship upper stage using the launch tower at Starbase’s pad 2.
Barring any delays in fueling or weather constraints, Starship is scheduled to lift off at 6:45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT). The launch window extends for 90 minutes.
Super Heavy booster propellant load had begun
SpaceX has begun loading cryogenic fuel into the Super Heavy booster at Starbase’s pad 2. Starship uses a mixture of liquid methane and liquix oxygen, together known as “methalox,” to power both Super Heavy and Ship stages of Starship.
SpaceX Straship Flight 13 launch stream is live
Live coverage has begun for SpaceX’s Starship Flight 13! You can watch the action and follow along with live updates here, and on the Space.com homepage. SpaceX’s direct stream is available on the company’s website.
Liftoff is currently set for 6:45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT), with a launch window that extends to 8:15 p.m. EDT (0015 GMT, July 17).
Starship Flight 13 on track for launch
Image credit: SpaceX
Image credit: SpaceX
Image credit: SpaceX
SpaceX is moving ahead today with Starship Flight 13, according to a post on the company’s social media page. Beach and road closures around Starbase close to the public this afternoon around 1:30 p.m. EDT (1730 GMT), clearing all but essential personnel from the surrounding facility.
A 90-minute launch window will open at 6:45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT), with several opportunities for teams to reset if liftoff doesn’t occur at the top of the window. SpaceX’s livestream is expected to begin about 30 minutes before launch, and will be simulcast here on Space.com.
SpaceX stacks massive Starship rocket ahead of today’s Flight 13 test launch (video)
On track for Starship’s 13th flight test later today – the 90-minute launch window opens at 5:45 p.m. CT. Live coverage starts ~30 minutes before launch https://t.co/QF9Qolqlvp pic.twitter.com/9drzTb14C0July 16, 2026
SpaceX stacks Starship overnight (video)
Image credit: SpaceX
Image credit: SpaceX
Now that both have been transported to the launch pad and stacked, SpaceX is preparing the rocket and ground infrastructure for liftoff.
The Flight 13 launch window opens at 6:45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT), and will last for up to 90 minutes.
Stacking Starship for Flight 13 pic.twitter.com/L4XN6gqgRtJuly 16, 2026
Starship stacked, awaiting launch countdown
SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket is stacked and ready for this evening’s Flight 13 launch. Booster 20, the Super Heavy vehicle supporting the mission, was rolled back to Starbase’s pad 2 yesterday, with the upper stage Ship 40 joining the booster overnight, when the two were stacked for (hopefully) the final time before liftoff.
SpaceX is progressing toward a 90-minute launch window that opens today (July 16) at 6:45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT). The mission can be streamed live here on Space.com, or directly via SpaceX on the Flight 13 website and the company’s X account. Read our full mission breakdown for a complete mission profile:
SpaceX readying Starship to launch in just over 24 hours
Starship’s next big test launch is just a day away.
SpaceX has transported Booster 20, the Super Heavy first stage for the massive launch vehicle, back to pad 2 at the company’s Starbase facility in Texas. If all goes according to plan, that will be its last relocation before launch, currently scheduled for tomorrow (July 15) during a 90-minute launch window beginning at 6:45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT).
Ship 40, Starship’s upper stage for Flight 13, will be trasnported to the pad today, and stacked on Super Heavy for a full wet dress rehearsal to confirm the vehicle’s readiness ahead of tomorrow’s launch attempt.
What time is SpaceX’s Starship Flight 13 launch on July 16? (Full mission timeline)
Super Heavy booster moved back to hangar
Following a static fire engine test last Friday (July 10), SpaceX has lowered the Flight 13 Super Heavy, Booster 20, from the launch stand and transported the stage back to its hangar at the company’s Starbase, Texas, facility.
The booster will roll back to the pad in the next day or so, along with Ship 40, the Flight 13 Starship upper stage. The pair will be stacked a Starbase’s pad 2, where it’s expected the rocket will undergo at least one additional engine test prior to launch.
SpaceX is still targeting July 16 for liftoff of Starship’s 13th test flight, scheduled to get off the ground during a 90-minute window that opens at 6:45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT).
How to watch SpaceX launch Starship Flight 13 on July 16
SpaceX targeting July 16 for Starship Flight 13
The next Starship launch has arrived!
A 90-minute launch window will begin on Thursday at 6:45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT). A livestream of the mission will begin about 30 minutes prior to liftoff and stream on the company’s mission page, profile on X and here on Space.com.
Full story: SpaceX targets July 16 for Starship Flight 13, reveals what went wrong on previous launch
