SpaceX cancelled a test launch of its Starship/Super Heavy rocket on Monday due to technical problems in the final moments of the countdown. The planned launch of the Flight 8 mission from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, was postponed after a series of delays related to malfunctions in the first and second stages of the launch vehicle.
Preparations for the launch were underway with an anticipated launch window of 6:45 p.m. Forty seconds before the anticipated liftoff, the system automatically initiated a shutdown due to anomalies in the Super Heavy booster. Although engineers quickly fixed the problem with the first stage, a new glitch occurred on Starship – the second stage caused the countdown to pause again. After several minutes of analysis, SpaceX made the decision to cancel the flight.
“The Starship team will determine the next appropriate launch window,” the company said.
Elon Musk explained on social media: “Too many question marks about this flight. Ground launch pressure was 20 bar below normal. Better to disassemble the stages, inspect and try again in a day or two.”
Previous failed Starship launch
This launch will be the first since the Flight 7 mission crashed on January 16, 2025, when communications with the spacecraft broke down 8.5 minutes after liftoff. An investigation found that the cause was “vibration several times higher than design values.” This caused damage to fuel lines, leaks and fires in the compartment between the oxygen tank and the heat shield. To fix the problems, SpaceX upgraded the hardware, added additional vents and a nitrogen purge system to reduce the risk of ignition.
In preparation for the Flight 8 launch, the company also conducted 60-second static fire tests on the Raptor engines to test new fuel line configurations.
A separate focus of the news release is on infrastructure expansion plans. To increase the rate of Starship production and launches, the company is building a giant 115 metre high Gigabay facility in Florida. The facility, which is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, will have an area 11 times the size of Texa’ Megabay and 24 work areas for stage assembly. The first rockets for Florida launches will be shipped from Texas until local production is completed.
