Starship Flight 13: A Last-Second Abort at Starbase

SpaceX has scrubbed the 13th integrated test of Starship after engines began to ignite and then shut down on July 16, 2026 at Starbase, Texas. Video and on-screen telemetry showed engine ignition starting about three seconds before the planned liftoff, but some engines failed to light and the automated system aborted the launch. The Super Heavy booster carries 33 Raptor engines and the upper stage was carrying 20 Starlink satellites intended to test communications and photograph the heat shield.

Although engineers have conducted recent full-engine tests, Flight 12 revealed that five of the booster’s 33 engines failed to relight during a boostback burn, which prompted software and hardware updates. SpaceX says it has modified the startup sequence and made hardware fixes; Elon Musk posted 'Next launch attempt hopefully in a few days.' Teams are offloading propellant and will inspect and possibly replace engines before scheduling another attempt. Neither stage was meant to be recovered and both would have ended up in the sea. Teams will investigate the issue before another attempt.