SpaceX aborted the test launch of its upgraded Starship V3 rocket just seconds before liftoff from Starbase in Texas. The flight was expected to be the 12th Starship test and the first launch of the redesigned V3 version, which the company is developing for NASA missions, deeper-space ambitions and faster deployment of Starlink satellites.

According to Reuters, the countdown was paused several times over propellant temperature and pressure issues before the final scrub. The immediate problem was a mechanical issue with part of the launch tower that failed to retract at the right moment. Elon Musk said SpaceX could attempt another launch on May 22 if the issue is fixed in time.

The test matters not only for engineering, but also for markets. SpaceX is preparing for a potential record-breaking IPO with a target valuation of about $1.75 trillion. Starship is central to that story: a fully reusable super-heavy rocket could lower launch costs, expand Starlink capacity and support more ambitious businesses, including lunar missions and orbital data centers.

For now, the scrub does not look like a major program setback. Musk has previously said SpaceX has multiple V3 ships and boosters in different stages of readiness, meaning even a failed or delayed test should not push the broader Starship schedule back by more than several weeks.