Washington, May 22 (SANA) SpaceX has postponed the launch of its uncrewed Starship super heavy rocket after a technical anomaly forced engineers to halt the mission moments before liftoff from the company’s Texas launch facility.
According to Reuters, the company said it hopes to attempt the launch again on Friday once the issue is resolved and final safety checks are completed.
Elon Musk said in a post on X that the decision to scrub the launch came seconds before liftoff after engineers detected irregular readings involving fuel temperature and pressure.
Musk explained that the primary issue involved a hydraulic pin in one of the launch tower’s mechanical arms, which failed to slide into position as intended.
“If repairs are completed successfully, we will attempt launch again today,” Musk said.
Starship, designed as a fully reusable launch system, is a key part of SpaceX’s long-term strategy to lower the cost of space transportation and expand its Starlink satellite internet network.
The rocket is also central to NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon in the coming years.
The latest postponement marks another step in the continuing development and testing phase of the approximately 120-meter-tall rocket system. SpaceX has conducted multiple prototype and test launches over the past two years as it works toward rapid and reusable deep-space transportation technology intended for future missions to Mars and beyond.
The company has not yet announced a precise launch window for Friday’s planned retry. Approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration remains valid for the revised timeframe pending final operational reviews.
IZ/RK
