SpaceX halts planned flight test for Starship spacecraft

SpaceX is set to attempt another launch of its mega-rocket, the Starship, on Monday evening, following a postponement due to a liquid oxygen leak on the pad. The launch, which was initially scheduled for Sunday, has been described as "under high pressure" due to the lack of reliability of the Starship rocket despite numerous tests.

The Starship, first tested in April 2023, is a key project for SpaceX. The company has received approval from the U.S. aviation regulator to increase its launch cadence, which could potentially accelerate the development of the Starship. However, this year, SpaceX has faced multiple technical setbacks in its three tests.

The first two tests resulted in the spectacular in-flight explosion of the upper stage of the rocket, causing debris to rain down over the Caribbean. In late May, the Starship spacecraft successfully reached space but exploded before its programmed end of mission due to a fuel leak. This string of setbacks, including a June explosion during a ground test, is fueling doubts about Elon Musk's target of initial Mars launches by 2026.

Dallas Kasaboski of consulting firm Analysys Mason stated that "successes have not outweighed failures" in the development of the Starship. Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, aims for another launch attempt on Monday and has announced that his company is using a risky strategy of launching multiple prototypes to gradually fix problems encountered during flight.

The new flight aims to conduct a series of tests on the upper stage of the rocket. SpaceX will not attempt to catch the Starship rocket with mechanical arms during this launch. The spacecraft is expected to splash down in the Indian Ocean.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted SpaceX approval on May 22 to resume Starship flights (Flight 9) after expanding designated hazard zones and coordinating new debris avoidance plans with other governments to increase launch cadence. Former U.S. President Donald Trump has urged his government to remove administrative hurdles to commercial space activities.

A modified version of the Starship is also set to be used in NASA's Artemis program. Roads near SpaceX's base in Texas remain closed, indicating a possible launch on Monday or Tuesday. The launch time is scheduled for 18:30 local time (19:30 ET).

Despite the challenges, SpaceX remains committed to pushing the boundaries of space travel. The company's ambitious goals, coupled with its innovative approach, continue to captivate the world and inspire a new generation of space explorers.