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Elon Musk's space agency was forced to reschedule the latest test flight of the SpaceX Starship mega-rocket on Monday after encountering issues just moments before liftoff. 

Mission controllers halted the countdown with only 40 seconds remaining as engineers identified technical problems with the Super Heavy booster and the upper-stage Starship spacecraft. Following this, the team made the decision to stand down and postpone the launch.

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Launch Postponed 

SpaceX officials suggested that they could attempt another launch as early as Tuesday evening, though no official time has been announced.

This upcoming flight marks Starship’s eighth test. During its previous mission, around six weeks ago, SpaceX lost communication with Starship about eight minutes into the flight. 

The upper stage then exploded over the Atlantic Ocean, sending debris through the sky. Some small fragments rained down over parts of Turks and Caicos, but local authorities confirmed there were no injuries.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched an investigation into the previous explosion and grounded the rocket pending further review. On Friday, the FAA granted clearance for Starship to return to flight, though the investigation remains open.

SpaceX’s internal review concluded that a propellant leak in the section of Starship known as the “attic” likely caused sustained fires. The company stated that these fires led to the controlled shutdown of all but one of Starship’s engines. The vehicle ultimately broke apart three minutes after SpaceX lost communication.

 Planned Test Objectives

To address the issues from the previous flight, SpaceX implemented several hardware and operational changes to Starship’s upper stage. However, the company has not disclosed specific details about these upgrades.

For the eighth test flight, SpaceX aims to deploy four mock Starlink satellites, marking the first time Starship would deliver a payload.

Additionally, the company plans to test the return of the massive Super Heavy booster by “catching” it with giant mechanical arms on the launch tower. SpaceX successfully performed this maneuver in January, considering that flight a partial success.

If all goes according to plan, Starship’s upper stage will remain in flight for about an hour before splashing down in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Western Australia.

Starship’s Role in Space Exploration

At 400 feet tall, Starship is the most powerful rocket ever developed. The system consists of two components: the first-stage booster, Super Heavy, and the upper-stage spacecraft.