SpaceX scrubbed the Starship Flight 13 launch attempt Thursday evening after four of Super Heavy's 33 Raptor 3 engines failed to ignite during the startup sequence, triggering an automatic abort with less than two minutes remaining in the countdown window.

What Happened

The 90-minute launch window opened at 6:45 p.m. EDT from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, and propellant loading proceeded without issue through most of the countdown, with more than 11.5 million pounds of liquid methane and liquid oxygen fully loaded into the vehicle before the abort triggered. SpaceX's launch directors posted on X that the team was "standing down from today's flight test attempt" and shut down the livestream shortly after. CEO Elon Musk confirmed within hours that some engines failed to start, causing the automatic abort. He said two Raptors would be removed and replaced to ensure a good flight, with the most probable launch timing likely early next week pending those repairs.

Why It Matters

Flight 13 was designed as one of the program's most consequential tests to date. The mission was planned to carry 20 Starlink V3 satellites—Starship's first operational payload ever attempted—in addition to six satellites equipped with external cameras meant to photograph the vehicle's heat shield from outside during flight, a self-inspection approach SpaceX had not previously attempted. The mission also needed to complete a Raptor engine relight in space, a step the company skipped on Flight 12 in May after losing an engine during ascent. That same booster experienced a 90-degree off-course flip during boostback burn when five engines failed to reignite. Thursday's abort marked Starship's first launch attempt since SpaceX went public in June under ticker SPCC at $135 per share, meaning public investors are now monitoring each outcome in real time.

The Bottom Line

SpaceX has not announced an official next launch date. Musk's estimate of early next week points to July 21 or 22 as the earliest possible attempt, pending engine replacement and a return to the pad for Booster 20.