SpaceX Scraps Starship Launch At The Last Minute Due To Frozen Valve

Image Source: Instagram SpaceX Scraps Starship Launch At The Last Minute Due To Frozen Valve

[{"selector":"#anim-a720aaf4-d219-424b-8c01-97cf7ade1016 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d3a0b83-ba83-4451-8f0d-4dd2491b7721","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-70e16ba4-79f6-42b9-a228-8422354000d4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The commercial spaceflight company SpaceX was forced to cancel its first scheduled test flight of the Starship rocket due to a frozen valve.

[{"selector":"#anim-4acae45b-e0f1-4890-ae35-9b02e6f9c396 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91e1461e-524e-4aa5-8820-ffb09fa09506","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7202d5b8-c2ad-4f2f-8414-9113b5afb25f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The launch was scheduled to take place in South Texas, but it had to be postponed for at least 48 hours.

[{"selector":"#anim-f5580031-9061-40bf-a75a-1547d76418df [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e3fb76b3-7a11-4d4b-8dd8-531136183695","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c840dcef-491e-4de7-98bc-15f33b7a6b0e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, made the announcement about the mission's cancellation just 10 minutes before the launch window.

[{"selector":"#anim-8802f405-ec0a-4316-8a63-06b14b906008 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-553eb021-763a-4359-a814-eda224ac1fd7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fd0659d-e1c5-49e5-8865-f4cdf801d276","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The Starship rocket is a stainless-steel rocket that is designed to carry humans to the moon, Mars, and beyond.

[{"selector":"#anim-7ec27c98-cc22-4fe5-a91b-49b41afa976a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e109bbfd-6b4e-46bb-a167-f3eb11ecd7a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-16089b51-e81e-4d32-852b-92a829af5a71","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The rocket is 400 feet tall and contains 33 engines in its super-heavy booster that work together to lift it off the ground.

[{"selector":"#anim-457f3cbc-efca-432c-a19f-4a2b893b9549 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0db7bcb6-036b-48ce-ad11-f7029a5a5a5e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-604e0c98-2b77-400f-9d23-dd8a3de66bd3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The first test flight of Starship is extremely risky and will depend upon dozens of engines firing in perfect synchrony.

[{"selector":"#anim-a3647258-92dd-4d1c-a431-c8c8db7f43f8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5524a91-d6bc-4782-bf80-24f54e42a3e1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f69674b2-2158-42d4-ac2f-7d40ff7c3453","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram SpaceX is aiming to become a multi-planetary species, and the success of the Starship rocket is critical to achieving this goal.

[{"selector":"#anim-78b87cda-7fe5-4697-bc64-c3e525f8792a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bebcffac-55ba-4a87-9c30-43db116c5893","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7ba6668-db57-45bd-87a3-4e1097d81bd9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The Starship rocket could also be used to launch large numbers of SpaceX's internet-providing "Starlink" satellites into orbit for cheap.

[{"selector":"#anim-fe18d007-f96e-47ce-9e29-41f2cf43045a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c4ec138-c633-465f-96d2-5362b853c5aa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f450f45f-d8cb-4552-99e7-4f4086350a73","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram NASA is paying SpaceX to develop a version of Starship to visit the moon, but that mission is still several years away.

[{"selector":"#anim-423fa4ca-535a-43ef-9ad7-a56ebc602a2a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b60f0833-2cca-46e8-b4ac-d9f59b2b7eb3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a91ad8a0-e845-499d-ae1f-2d1a921a6553","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 166.53746%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The launch of Starship comes at a difficult time for the tech industry as SpaceX is trying to raise additional capital to keep the development of Starship and Starlink going.

[{"selector":"#anim-0ad8d492-6ce2-4f3a-93e4-7a4fd4803491 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-39a66c3b-d8b3-4503-a2c0-b8e409949c9a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-35f8fad6-989c-40dd-bf95-2d4e197791d4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 166.53746%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram Investors seem happy to let SpaceX try out its massive, potentially interplanetary rocket, but the launch's failure could affect all of SpaceX's business.

[{"selector":"#anim-3fdc0b74-6cea-4c21-b86b-bdcb91fc1d59 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b8768317-8532-4f3c-890d-cdd46eea5489","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a6553e6c-cfdf-4e1c-b0a5-e98dbbea331c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram SpaceX seems to understand the risks and replaced "liftoff" with "excitement guaranteed" in its mission timeline for the first test flight.

[{"selector":"#anim-0cc94a1a-a6a9-4bfe-85d6-10306dadb32e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-81a7381f-b8ec-44e4-a3b1-a8ee82a039b2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55d9e3c8-cbea-4ce5-96d0-228bc613ebcd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The success of Starship will inform and improve the probability of success in the future as SpaceX rapidly advances development.

[{"selector":"#anim-2b8e9717-a39b-4599-8f3f-508a5aa86204 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8aa3a519-d28c-4f44-b6ea-446d473ea8c4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d0923322-9321-4ada-b70c-c84a638733d2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 221.74939%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram Starship is unlike any other rocket, and the first test flight will be extremely risky.

[{"selector":"#anim-802649b7-f3c0-4947-9bec-168bcbcdc164 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d04789d0-1a8c-4dba-b736-6053bd1882f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-27202fd4-ac0d-41bf-ad84-cf895a0d7247","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram SpaceX acknowledges that the first test flight will be extremely risky, but success will depend on dozens of engines firing in perfect synchrony.

[{"selector":"#anim-c1962fd1-8b19-4376-9ac9-184bf59c7d64 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed94a82d-051c-4354-88b8-2c1d89d0a258","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-df4e5757-b0b4-4a03-9c7a-b9767b3215ca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The rocket is larger than any ever built, and success is measured by how much the team can learn from the test.

[{"selector":"#anim-39b3f882-9f49-4e20-af50-adabddd0c64b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb417213-bd15-4c7a-b49b-22777c006b94","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a06bb41c-5d02-4d59-ac96-828923c2fd8e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram SpaceX hopes that Starship will provide a critical step to becoming multiplanetary, by allowing large payloads to be carried into orbit for cheap.

[{"selector":"#anim-3e2d931a-9493-4e00-af69-e01feb8a761a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-12bab8c6-420e-4b1f-962a-22f0c59e43d9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f36c6f88-b2a0-428c-a275-2c6f957b5505","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram Starship is a very complex machine with many different components, says Paulo Lozano, director of MIT's space propulsion laboratory.

[{"selector":"#anim-cd756cc0-e039-4209-bb19-d0b629fd4674 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d535c1b-f098-4329-8850-98d50a9d362b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a5364240-c77e-45b9-acf6-d37636f94733","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram The stakes are high, and the success of Starship is essential for the long-term survival of humanity, according to Elon Musk.

[{"selector":"#anim-8cb49413-1b0b-4c23-97fa-faf5e9142d32 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c853a69f-cc33-48a6-a0fc-fc146bf23343","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a8acdce0-97a2-417d-9d74-3f47350917b5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 185.40634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Image Source: Instagram Despite the risks, SpaceX remains committed to developing Starship and becoming a multi-planetary species.