SpaceX has postponed the highly anticipated launch of its Starship rocket due to a pressure issue. The exact date of the rescheduled launch has not been disclosed, but Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, previously mentioned that the Starship launch was “trending towards near the end of [the] third week of April”[4][9].
SpaceX has been developing the Starship as a next-generation, fully reusable spacecraft designed to take astronauts to deep space destinations, including the Moon and Mars[5]. It is also being developed to fulfill a $1.15 billion contract with NASA to deliver astronauts to the Moon as part of the Artemis program[5].
The Starship’s first orbital test flight is planned for April 2023[2]. According to Musk, SpaceX is ready to launch the rocket within a few weeks, pending regulatory approval[3][10]. The 120-meter tall rocket is designed with reusable parts, making it a more sustainable and cost-effective option for space travel[9].
In the past, SpaceX has experienced both successes and failures in its high-altitude test flights. For instance, the Starship prototype Serial Number 10 (SN10) managed to land successfully in Boca Chica, Texas after a high-altitude test flight[7]. However, other prototypes like SN11 encountered issues during test flights[15].
Further details on the rescheduled launch date and the specific pressure issue that led to the postponement are yet to be released. As the situation develops, updates will be provided.