SpaceX tries to launch a bigger version of Starship but hits a series of last-minute problems

SpaceX aborted a test flight of its newest Starship rocket from Starbase in Texas due to a hydraulic pin issue with the launch tower arm, delaying the planned orbital journey. The 407-foot rocket was set to carry 20 mock Starlink satellites and support NASA’s upcoming Artemis moon landing missions, with another attempt possible the following day." "article": "SpaceX attempted to launch its latest version of the Starship rocket from Starbase near the Mexican border in Boca Chica, Texas, on Thursday evening. The 407-foot rocket was preparing for a test flight that would involve a space-skimming journey halfway around the world, including the release of 20 mock Starlink satellites before a controlled re-entry into the Indian Ocean. The launch was aborted less than a half-minute before liftoff due to a hydraulic pin issue preventing the launch tower’s arm from retracting. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk later confirmed the problem and suggested a second attempt could occur the following day, Friday. This launch attempt follows Musk’s announcement the previous day that SpaceX would be going public. The test flight, if successful, would mark the 12th for Starship and the first since last fall. NASA is counting on the updated Starship design to transport astronauts to the moon as part of the Artemis program in the coming years. The brand-new launch pad at Starbase experienced technical difficulties, contributing to the delay. SpaceX has not yet provided a timeline for resolving the issue, though Musk indicated efforts to fix it quickly. The rocket’s mission would have lasted about an hour, testing critical systems for future crewed missions to the lunar surface.