--- title: "SpaceX Cancels Launch of Spaceship That Keeps Exploding" description: "SpaceX cancelled the test launch of its SN15 Starship prototype for an undisclosed reason and will likely try again on Monday." date: "2021-04-30" modified: "2021-04-30" authors: - name: "Dan Robitzski" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-cancels-launch-spaceship-exploding" categories: - "Space" - "SpaceX" tags: - "SpaceX" - "Starship" - "the digest" --- # SpaceX Cancels Launch of Spaceship That Keeps Exploding ![SpaceX cancelled the test launch of its SN15 Starship prototype for an undisclosed reason and will likely try again on Monday.]() *\Image: SpaceX / Futurism\* ## Short Notice SpaceX had planned to test-launch its latest Starship prototype, dubbed SN15, on Friday, but a last-minute cancellation means the spacecraft will stay grounded for the time being. Typically, a SpaceX test launch means nearby roads and beaches get shut down — a reasonable precaution given the fact that these tests have so far ended [with unintentional fireworks shows](). But Cameron County, where SpaceX's Texas facilities are located, [lifted its road closures]() on Friday afternoon, signaling that the high-altitude test was a no-go. ## Rough Timing The test will still happen at some point, but the cancellation is a bummer for close SpaceX watchers. This particular launch would have had significantly raised stakes, as it would have been the first Starship test since NASA commissioned SpaceX [to land one of the giant rockets on the Moon](). So far, SpaceX hasn't announced why the test was cancelled, [according to *The Independent*](), but a second try will likely happen on Monday. At that point, we can all find out whether SpaceX finally manages to stick the landing or if we'll see a [fifth launch in a row]() end in a gigantic fireball. **More on Starship:** *[Elon Musk Reveals Why Last Starship Prototype Exploded Before Landing]()* ## Author Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California. ### Author social links [Twitter]()