🔥 Trending Starship Flight 13: Latest Updates and What to Expect

Starship Flight 13 Aborted at T-0 Due to Engine Ignition Failure

SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 experienced an automatic abort just moments before its scheduled liftoff on July 16, 2026, at Starbase, Texas ¹²¹⁰. The launch was scrubbed at T-0 (zero seconds before launch) when four Raptor engines failed to ignite ³⁵.

Details of the Abort

The incident occurred during the engine ignition sequence, with live viewers witnessing the abort during the livestream ⁵. Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, confirmed that the failure of four Raptor engines to ignite was the direct cause of the scrub ³⁴. The safety systems performed as designed, triggering an automatic shutdown and preventing any damage to the vehicle ¹⁰.

This was the 13th test flight for Starship and the second test of its upgraded V3 configuration, following Flight 12 in May 2026 ⁸⁹. Flight 12 had also encountered engine reignition issues, preventing a controlled splashdown ⁸. The V3 configuration aims to push the limits of the powerful rocket, with a successful test demonstrating engine reignition in space being crucial for moving beyond suborbital flights ⁵⁹.

Next Steps and Rescheduled Launch

Following the abort, SpaceX is targeting July 23, 2026, for a second attempt at Starship Flight 13 ⁶⁷. The launch window is expected to open at 5:45 p.m. CT and will last for 90 minutes ⁷. A live webcast of the flight test will begin approximately 30 minutes before liftoff ⁷. Both Booster 20 and Ship 40 were rolled back after the initial abort ⁶.