SpaceX launch postponed: Starship’s 7th test flight delayed to Wednesday. See schedule

SpaceX’s seventh test flight has been postponed and is now scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 15.

The Starship flight, the first in 2025, was originally scheduled for Monday afternoon. After a brief delay, the year ahead is shaping up to be a pivotal one for Starship, the massive spacecraft built and operated by billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

Why was the launch delayed, and what’s the new schedule? Here’s what we know.

Why did SpaceX reschedule the Starship launch?

SpaceX posted the new launch date on X Saturday evening, the day after the flight rehearsal test. This type of rehearsal is also called a “wet dress rehearsal,” which AutoEvolution describes as “simulating almost the entire steps of a launch, without the actual ignition.”

Though the exact reasons behind the delay have yet to be confirmed, weather conditions may have played a role in the decision. SpaceX’s Starbase, located in Boca Chica near Brownsville, has received rainy and windy conditions to start the week.

The postponement could also be due to an issue discovered during Friday’s wet dress rehearsal, after which the Starship was destacked.

SpaceX to attempt booster catch, Starlink satellite deployment test

The Starship vehicle being rolled out to the launch site is a new and improved spacecraft featuring upgrades to its upper stage and redesigns to its propulsion system and heat shield, according to SpaceX.

“All add additional vehicle performance and the ability to fly longer missions,” SpaceX said.

During the seventh flight test, mission operators plan to have Starship for the first time attempt to deploy 10 Starlink simulators, similar in size and weight to next-generation Starlink satellites. The Starlink simulators will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship, with splashdown targeted in the Indian Ocean.

SpaceX plans to once again attempt to return the rocket booster and catch it at the launch pad, which would cause sonic booms in the area around the landing zone. The maneuver, which has been pulled off only once, during the October demonstration, was called off in the most recent test in November, which President-elect Donald Trump attended.

This time, the catch tower has been upgraded with new hardware intended to make a booster catch more feasible. That includes protections for the sensors on the tower’s mechanical arms, nicknamed chopsticks, which SpaceX said were damaged during the Nov. 19 launch, resulting in mission operators diverting the booster for a landing in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Super Heavy rocket booster will be outfitted with a Raptor engine from the booster that launched and returned on Starship’s fifth flight test in October — the first time flight-proven hardware is being reused, SpaceX said. The company also plans to once again reignite its Raptor engines in space to attempt an orbital burn — a crucial maneuver to one day bring a vehicle back to the ground.

How to watch the Starship launch in Texas

SpaceX will host a livestream of the flight test starting about 35 minutes before liftoff.

The webcast is available on its website and on the social media platform X. Coverage will also be available on SpaceX’s new X TV app.

“As is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change, so be sure to check in here and stay tuned to our X account for updates,” SpaceX said.

SpaceX launch schedule

The timelines for Wednesday’s countdown to launch and the test flight remain the same as originally scheduled, the aerospace company confirmed. All times refer to periods leading up to or following the 4 p.m. launch time.

Countdown

Flight test timeline

— USA TODAY contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: SpaceX Starship launch from Texas delayed, see schedule for Wednesday