SpaceX moves Starship launch attempt to Thursday

by Reuters Jul 20, 2026

SpaceX is targeting Thursday, July 23, for another attempt to launch its Starship rocket, the company said in a statement on Sunday.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk initially posted on X that the next Starship launch would occur on Friday. He later replied to that post, saying, "I mean Thursday," aligning with the company's earlier statement.

On July 16, SpaceX's Starship rocket triggered a last-second abort before liftoff for its 13th flight ‌test from Texas, which erased about $100 billion from the company's market value.

SpaceX employees gather to watch Booster 20 as it rolls out of the SpaceX production facility for the launch pad as preparations continue for the 13th test flight of the Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy v3 booster in Starbase, Texas, July 14, 2026. REUTERS/Steve Nesius

SpaceX said it has modified Starship's propulsion system to address the engine issue experienced on the previous flight.

A launch delay for the $15 billion rocket development program better known for dramatic engineering feats and explosive testing failures is not uncommon.

Last Friday, SpaceX said it would attempt the launch on July 20.

The company has launched 12 Starship test flights since 2023.

On its 13th flight test, Starship will carry 20 Starlink satellites to demonstrate its satellite-dispensing system and the Starlink network's laser communication links, but those satellites will follow the ship's suborbital trajectory and burn up in Earth's atmosphere soon after deployment.

In its prospectus, SpaceX said that it aims to launch the first Starlink satellites to orbit on Starship by year's end, followed by routine launches.