SpaceX is working toward a Thursday, July 23 launch attempt for Starship Flight 13 after an automatic abort during the initial try on July 16 triggered by engine ignition failures aboard Booster 20.
What Happened
The July 16 countdown proceeded smoothly until a planned hold at T-60 seconds, which SpaceX had shifted from the traditional T-40 point to allow additional pre-launch checks. After clearing that hold, telemetry showed 29 of Booster 20's 33 Raptor engines ignited before the vehicle's onboard computers triggered an automatic abort and shut all engines down. The abort occurred because the vehicle exceeded its engine-out criteria—Starship is designed to tolerate up to three engine failures during startup, but a fourth engine failed to ignite, violating launch commit criteria. Both Booster 20 and Ship 40 were rolled back to the production site following the abort. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated that two Raptor engines on the booster would be swapped out "to be confident of a good flight." At least three engines associated with Booster 20 have been spotted at SpaceX's McGregor test site, suggesting more than two have been removed. The company is targeting Thursday for the next attempt, though additional time could be added as further standalone booster testing on Pad 2 has been confirmed via road and beach closure notifications.
Why It Matters
The abort marked the first post-ignition shutdown during an actual Starship launch attempt, representing a new failure mode for the program. The engine-out tolerance built into Starship's design proved effective at identifying the issue but ultimately prevented flight. For NASA, which relies on Starship as its Human Landing System provider under Artemis, any delay in the vehicle's development cadence carries downstream scheduling implications. Investors and commercial customers watching the program's progress saw an unplanned scrub extend what SpaceX had hoped would be a rapid Monday turnaround. The need for multiple engine replacements—and inspection of at least three Raptors at McGregor—suggests engineering teams are working through a potential systemic issue rather than a single faulty unit.
The Bottom Line
SpaceX is preparing Booster 20 and Ship 40 for another launch attempt targeting Thursday, July 23, following an engine-related abort on July 16. Engine swaps are underway, with additional standalone booster testing possible at Pad 2 before the full stack attempts to fly.