Elon Musk's SpaceX cancels starship test flight at last moment due to unknown issue

SpaceX Scrubs Starship Test Flight at Last Minute Due to Technical Issues

SpaceX cancelled its latest Starship test flight moments before liftoff on Monday. The mega rocket was set to launch from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas. However, technical concerns forced the team to call it off.

Elon Musk explained the decision in a post on X. "Too many question marks about this flight," he said. He also noted a pressure issue in the ground system. "Best to destack, inspect both stages and try again," he added.

While no official new date was announced, SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot suggested another attempt within 24 hours.

Too many question marks about this flight and then we were 20 bar low on ground spin start pressure.Best to destack, inspect both stages and try again in a day or two. https://t.co/TekpJ0uz5y
Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 4, 2025

Starship’s Importance and Past Challenges
This was meant to be Starship’s eighth test flight and the first since a mid-air failure in January. That launch ended with the upper stage breaking apart over the Caribbean. The rocket plays a key role in Musk’s vision for cost-effective space travel and Mars missions.

A modified Starship will also support NASA’s Artemis programme. This mission aims to return astronauts to the Moon.

Following January’s failure, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded Starship. The explosion scattered debris over the Turks and Caicos Islands. However, the FAA recently confirmed that SpaceX can launch before completing its final review.

What’s Next for Starship?
SpaceX has upgraded the upper stage to improve reliability. The next test flight will aim to last over an hour. The company will also test Starlink simulators, which will burn up upon re-entry.

The booster stage will again attempt a controlled landing using the launch tower’s "chopstick" arms. SpaceX has successfully performed this manoeuvre twice before.

For now, the upper stage will not be recovered. Instead, it is expected to splash down in the ocean off Australia’s west coast.