SpaceX Targets Next Month for Starship Flight 13, Isar Scrubs Launch

SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell stated in a recent CNBC interview that the company's Starship Flight 13 could launch as soon as next month, though significant work remains before the test flight. The mission will replicate the previous Flight 12 profile with a suborbital trajectory and Indian Ocean splashdown, according to Shotwell's comments. SpaceX postponed orbital flight attempts until at least Flight 14 after the spacecraft failed to complete a critical engine restart in space during the last flight. The timeline announcement comes as SpaceX continues iterative testing of its Starship mega-rocket system.

SpaceX Targets Next Month for Starship Flight 13

Gwynne Shotwell told CNBC that Starship's Flight 13 could occur as soon as next month. The test flight will follow the same mission profile as the previous launch last month, featuring a suborbital flight path with the spacecraft splashing down in the Indian Ocean.

SpaceX decided to delay orbital flight demonstrations until Flight 14 at the earliest. The company made this decision after the spacecraft was unable to complete a critical engine restart in space during the last flight. Shotwell's interview with CNBC provided the timeline update for the upcoming test mission.

Isar Aerospace Scrubs Spectrum Rocket Launch Due to Fluid System Issues

Isar Aerospace scrubbed a launch attempt for its Spectrum rocket Monday after detecting off nominal behavior in the vehicle's fluid systems, according to a company social media post. The teams are analyzing the new data to isolate the root cause of the technical issue.

The German rocket startup has raised nearly $1 billion to date but continues to face challenges reaching orbit. The Spectrum rocket has flown just once to date on a failed launch last year that lasted less than 30 seconds. Isar Aerospace maintains top position among a new generation of European rocket startups despite the ongoing delays.

FAQ

What did Gwynne Shotwell say about Starship Flight 13 timeline?

Gwynne Shotwell stated in a recent CNBC interview that SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 could launch as soon as next month. She indicated the mission will follow the same suborbital profile as Flight 12, with a splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

Why did Isar Aerospace scrub the Spectrum rocket launch?

Isar Aerospace scrubbed the Spectrum rocket launch Monday after detecting off nominal behavior in the vehicle's fluid systems. The company's teams are analyzing data to identify the root cause of the technical issue.