SpaceX will attempt a second launch of its Starship on Thursday, April 20 at 9:28 a.m. EST after the mission was called off Monday due to technical issues. The company will live stream launching on its website and YouTube.
Original story below:
On Monday, SpaceX began making history and launching its two-stage rocket, Starship by the company as “the world’s most powerful launch vehicle ever developed.”
However, things did not go as planned.
With just 10 minutes left for the countdown to takeoff, the Starship’s launch was called off due to a frozen valve in the lower stage rocket booster, Reuters reported. The company announced on a live webcast that it would not attempt a second attempt for at least 48 hours.
SpaceX then took on Twitter participation it aimed for its second launch attempt on Thursday, April 20, prompting numerous jokes from users referring to both the first failed attempt and the 4/20 association with cannabis.
Teams are working towards Thursday April 20 for the first flight test of a fully integrated Starship and Super Heavy rocket → https://t.co/bG5tsCUanp pic.twitter.com/umcqhJCGai
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 17, 2023
This villain launches at 4:20 AM, on 4/20 pic.twitter.com/T0UaEam6Ob
— Imaginary Ones (@Imaginary_Ones) April 18, 2023
Updates for the 4/20 launch? pic.twitter.com/TPNEr05TUk
— Shark Monkey (@BabyApeShark) April 17, 2023
But if Starship’s launch is successful, it will mark a milestone for aerospace and “potentially enable new businesses and even new markets,” BryceTech CEO Carissa Christensen said. Axios.
Related: The World’s First Space Tourist Is Going Back For A Trip Around The Moon, And This Time He’s Bringing His Wife
In addition to being the largest rocket ever built at nearly 400 feet, Starship could be the first step in transforming space travel by being cheaper — well, relatively cheaper ($10 million or less) — and could potentially having to fly back and forth from space to Earth with both crew and cargo.
While $10 million isn’t exactly in the budget for most people, Christensen Axios pointed out that it could provide a viable business opportunity for companies looking to produce materials in orbit, such as pharmaceuticals.
Related: SpaceX just launched four astronauts into space. “Don’t forget to give us five stars.”
