SpaceX Starship Launch Hits Snag

Friday's anticipated Starship launch was delayed due to the need to replace hardware, chief executive Elon Musk said.

Friday, November 17, 2023 at 11:54 AM ET

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SpaceX’s Starship rocket and Super Heavy Booster are stacked on the company’s Boca Chica, Texas, launch pad. [Courtesy: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

SpaceX's second Starship orbital test flight, initially scheduled for Friday, has been delayed to Saturday.
The postponement is due to the need to replace a flight control hardware component (grid fin actuator), as announced by Elon Musk.
This delay follows earlier FAA clearance for the launch, with SpaceX emphasizing "rapid iterative development" after its first Starship test flight exploded in April.

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SpaceX’s long-anticipated second launch of its Starship rocket, initially set for Friday morning, has been delayed due to the need to replace flight control hardware, according to chief executive Elon Musk.

Earlier in the week, SpaceX had been given the all clear by the FAA for the second orbital test flight of the 400-foot-tall Starship upper stage rocket and Super Heavy booster.