SpaceX Starship V3 launch delay forced by launch‑tower glitch

SpaceX Starship V3 launch delay

On Thursday, SpaceX halted the inaugural flight of the upgraded Starship V3 less than a minute after propellant loading, after a ground system fault in the launch tower forced the countdown to pause at ↓ 40 seconds before liftoff. The crew‑chief described the issue as a “persistent sensor anomaly” that repeatedly tripped the automated abort logic. After five successive holds, the team elected to stand down, pushing the attempt to the following day.

Clear skies had replaced earlier clouds and rain, and the launch window was shifted by one hour to accommodate the revised schedule. Engineers are now inspecting the tower’s hydraulic clamps and data links, a process Reuters says could take several hours.

“Safety remains our top priority,” a spokesperson told reporters, echoing the company’s long‑standing mantra.

Analysts note that each delay adds cost pressure to SpaceX’s ambitious timeline for the Starship program, which aims to support lunar missions and future Mars ventures. The setback also nudges the broader commercial launch market, as rivals watch closely, according to AP News.