Elon Musk's Starship V3 Test Flight Canceled 40 Seconds Before Launch

by AJP Posted : May 23, 2026, 18:19Updated : May 23, 2026, 18:19

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Elon Musk's SpaceX canceled the first test flight of its next-generation spacecraft, Starship V3, just before launch. The countdown was halted less than a minute before liftoff due to a problem with the launch pad equipment.

According to Reuters and other sources on May 21, SpaceX called off the 12th test flight of the Starship at its Starbase facility in Texas.

The launch was stopped approximately 30 to 40 seconds before takeoff. Reports indicate that the issue was caused by a hydraulic pin on the launch tower arm not folding correctly.

This test was intended to be the first integrated flight of the Starship V3 and the upgraded Super Heavy booster. The Starship V3 is a massive launch vehicle that features improvements in its propulsion system, fuel tanks, and re-entry design compared to previous models.

For this test, SpaceX planned to carry 20 model Starlink satellites instead of actual ones to assess the deployment capabilities. The spacecraft was expected to orbit the Earth before landing in the Indian Ocean.

SpaceX aims to attempt another launch during a 90-minute window starting at 5:30 PM Central Time on May 22, pending resolution of the issues. CEO Musk stated, "We may retry the next day depending on the repair situation."

* This article has been translated by AI.

AJP