SpaceX delays 10th Starship launch for second time due to cloudy weather

SpaceX’s highly anticipated 10th Starship launch was postponed for the second consecutive day after cloudy weather conditions at the company’s Starbase facility in Texas made liftoff unsafe. Originally scheduled for Sunday, August 24, and then Monday, August 25, the launch of the 71-meter Super Heavy booster and 52-meter Starship upper stage could not proceed despite the rocket being fully fueled and ready. The delay marks another minor setback in SpaceX’s efforts to overcome technical challenges and test the next-generation rocket system designed for Mars missions, routine Starlink deployments, and rapid reusability.

SpaceX aims next launch attempt for Tuesday

SpaceX now plans to attempt the Starship launch on Tuesday, August 26, at 7:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT). The team will monitor weather conditions closely, ensuring that cloudy skies do not interfere with the complex liftoff procedure. Engineers aim to gather critical data from this flight to advance Starship’s reusable design and refine its atmospheric reentry capabilities.

Technical challenges and testing approach

The Starship program has faced repeated challenges this year, including early-flight failures, a mid-air test explosion, and minor launchpad issues such as liquid oxygen leaks. SpaceX’s iterative “test-to-failure” philosophy allows the company to push prototypes to their limits, gather data, and quickly build new iterations. While this approach differs from competitors like Blue Origin and United Launch Alliance, it remains central to Elon Musk’s vision of a fully reusable rocket capable of frequent spaceflights.