SpaceX Starship V3 debut scrubbed due to ground system issue
▼ Summary
– SpaceX’s first launch of a taller, more powerful Starship rocket was scrubbed within 40 seconds of liftoff due to a launch tower issue.
– The weather cleared to mostly sunny skies before the launch attempt, and the countdown initially proceeded smoothly after propellant loading began.
– The countdown paused 40 seconds before liftoff, and the launch team tried to resume it five times before aborting the attempt.
SpaceX came within 40 seconds of launching the first flight of its upgraded Starship V3 on Thursday, but a stubborn issue with the launch tower forced the company to abort the attempt, keeping the rocket grounded for at least another day.
Clouds and rain had cleared from the area around SpaceX’s South Texas facility, leaving largely sunny skies over the Starship launch pad by Thursday afternoon. The company delayed the launch window by an hour, but once propellant loading began, the countdown appeared to proceed without a hitch.
That smooth progress ended when the countdown clock froze at T-minus 40 seconds. The launch team tried repeatedly to restart the sequence, but each time the computer overseeing the countdown stopped it again. In total, five holds occurred before SpaceX ultimately called off the attempt.
The issue was traced to a ground system problem on the launch tower, though SpaceX did not immediately provide further details. The company said it would assess the situation and target another launch opportunity as soon as possible.
(Source: Ars Technica)
