Two aborts. Two different rockets.
SpaceX had another morning ruined on July 20 at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. A Falcon 9 rocket stood ready to lift 24 Starlink satellites into orbit. It looked normal. Then, just as the first-stage engines ignited, the countdown died. Abort.
It’s the second time in a row this has happened.
Just days earlier, on the afternoon of July 16, a similar scene played out. The attempt to launch Starship’s 13th test flight also ended in a last-second halt.
You might be wondering if this points to a systemic glitch across the entire SpaceX operation. It doesn’t. These events likely share almost nothing in common beyond bad luck with timing. They involve vastly different machines built for different phases of aerospace history.
Falcon 9 Reliability vs. Starship Development
The Falcon 9 is arguably the most reliable and active rocket currently flying. This workhorse has already launched 84 times this calendar year. Zero failures. It is a mature asset.
Starship is still in the thick of development and testing.
SpaceX has huge hopes for this beast. The goal is total reusability paired with unprecedented power. It is the biggest and most powerful rocket ever constructed. That ambition brings complexity. Complexity invites hiccups.
The engines themselves prove how different these vehicles are.
Falcon 9 uses nine Merlin 1D engines on its first stage. They are proven technology. Starship’s Super Heavy booster relies on 33 next-generation Raptors. New hardware. New problems.
Swapping Raptors Ahead of Next Flight
So, what happens next for Starship?
SpaceX didn’t just let Flight 13 sit. Engineers identified issues. The company decided to swap out two of the Raptors on the Super Heavy booster before the next attempt.
That next try is scheduled for Thursday, July 23.
It will likely be another tense afternoon. If the new engines hold up, Starship might finally get its sky-time. If not? We’re back to square one.
The Falcon 9 will keep launching Starlink satellites while we watch.
