SpaceX called off the scheduled 10th test launch of its Starship megarocket for the second day in a row on Monday (Aug. 25), this time because Mother Nature wouldn't cooperate.
SpaceX originally hoped to launch Starship Flight 10 from its Starbase location in South Texas on Sunday evening, during an hourlong window that opened at 7:30 p.m. EDT (2330 GMT), but was stopped by a glitch with ground systems. The company tried again today during the same timeframe but had to scrub again, because anvil-shaped clouds failed to clear the area. Such clouds provide an intolerable risk of lightning, which might kill a launch in the cradle.
"Launch called off for tonight due to anvil clouds over launch site (lightning risk)," SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on social media after the launch scrub. Musk was onhand for the launch attempt and presented an overview of Starship via live commentary.
"Standing down from today’s flight test attempt due to weather. Starship crew is assessing the next best available opportunity to fly," SpaceX stated via X on Monday evening.
The next likely possibility is Tuesday evening, during the same hourlong window. Whenever Starship flies again, you'll be able to watch the action here at Space.com, courtesy of SpaceX.
"We do have a phenomenal logistics team, so we should hopefully be able to replenish prop everything," SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot said during live commentary, using an acronym for the propellant needed to launch Starship. "We don't have to refill all the water tanks because we didn't fire off the deflector, but we'll have to reload the prop."
SpaceX is constructing Starship – the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built — to help humans settle the moon and Mars, among other ambitious exploration endeavors.
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