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Four engine failures abort Starship's 13th launch bid at the last second
SpaceX's Starship rocket was set for its 13th test flight, but a last-second abort occurred when four engines failed to ignite just seconds before launch. Elon Musk announced that two engines would be replaced ahead of the next launch attempt, which is tentatively scheduled for early next week. While the automatic launch system successfully halted the countdown, this incident emphasizes the engineering challenges SpaceX faces as they prepare for missions, including NASA's Artemis program for lunar landings.
MonitorConfidence: MediumShort term horizon
Published 19 Jul 2026, 11:05 UTC2 min read
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Summary
TL;DR
- Starship rocket experienced a last-second launch abort.
- Four engines failed to ignite, triggering an auto-abort.
- Elon Musk plans to replace two engines to ensure flight success.
- The rocket is critical for NASA's upcoming Artemis missions.
- SpaceX aims for a launch attempt early next week.
Interesting facts
- This is the first occurrence of a full-scale Starship abort.
- Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built.
- The mission included deploying new Starlink satellites.