The first test flight for the SpaceX Starship spacecraft was scrubbed Monday morning and transitioned to a “wet dress rehearsal” due to an issue with the first-stage pressurization system.
Once the decision was made to cancel the launch, the countdown continued in all other respects, including the loading of propellant, guidance checks, engine checks and other launch tasks.
A video shared by Twitter user @jana84818846 shows spectators gathered Monday morning at Isla Blanca Beach, on South Padre Island in Texas, which has a clear view of SpaceXs Starbase spaceport at Boca Chica.
The Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket together stand 394 feet tall on the launchpad. According to SpaceX, Starship is designed to be “a fully reusable transportation system” that can carry crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the moon, and eventually Mars.
The Super Heavy rocket has previously undergone static fire tests, and the Starship spacecraft has successfully completed sub-orbital flight tests. The flight tests demonstrated the spacecrafts ability to “fly through the subsonic phase of entry before re-lighting its engines and flipping itself to a vertical configuration for landing,” the company said.
SpaceX built a launch and catch tower nearly 500 feet tall to launch and catch the Super Heavy rocket booster. For the first flight test, however, there will be no attempt at a vertical landing of Starship or a catch of the Super Heavy booster, the company said.
The next launch window opens at 8:28 CT on Thursday, April 20, SpaceX said.
