SpaceX prepares for new launch of the Starship rocket; understand

SpaceX postponed until this Friday (22) a new attempt to launch Starship, considered the largest and most powerful rocket ever built in the world.

The flight of the new "V3" version was scheduled to take place this Thursday (21), at the Starbase base, in Texas, United States, at 8:30 pm Brasília time. However, the company interrupted the countdown after identifying last-minute technical problems.

SpaceX has not yet announced the time for the new launch.

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What caused the postponement
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Elon Musk stated that a "hydraulic pin" responsible for keeping one of the launch tower's arms locked failed to retract correctly.

"If this can be fixed tonight, there will be another launch attempt tomorrow (Friday)," Musk wrote.

The hydraulic pin holding the tower arm in place did not retract.

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If that can be fixed tonight, there will be another launch attempt tomorrow at 5:30 CT. https://t.co/DJAdvDYQpH

- Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 21, 2026

During the official broadcast, SpaceX spokesperson Dan Huot confirmed that engineers were unable to resolve the technical issues in time for launch.

"We hope to be able to make another flight attempt tomorrow, but obviously stay tuned to our social media," he said.

Separation of the module from the crew marks the return of Artemis II to Earth; see | CNN PRIME TIME

What is Starship
Starship is SpaceX's main space project and was created for future missions to the Moon and Mars.

The complete system is approximately 124 meters high and is made up of the Starship spacecraft and the Super Heavy rocket, equipped with 33 Raptor engines.

According to the company, the objective is to develop a fully reusable system capable of transporting astronauts, satellites and heavy cargo into space.

https://admin.cnnbrasil.com.br/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/05/RAPTOR_SEA.mp4

What the flight will be like
This week's test should be suborbital. This means that the spacecraft would leave the Earth's atmosphere, travel through space for about an hour and then return for a controlled landing in the ocean.

Read also: Where does Elon Musk's rocket launched today go?

The mission also intends to test structural improvements, new engines and control systems for the new version of Starship.

Artemis II: see the main images of the mission

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After being rescued at sea, astronauts were taken to a ship.

They will now undergo medical monitoring to begin the recovery period.

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Removal of astronauts from Orion - NASA

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Rescue of astronauts from the Orion capsule

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Boats that removed the astronauts

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Orion capsule hatch opens

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Orion capsule hatch opens - NASA

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Astronauts must exit the Artemis II capsule - NASA

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Crew will be removed from capsule - NASA

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Orion module of the Artemis II mission - NASA

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Rescue is carried out by NASA and Navy teams - NASA

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Splash down moment of the Orion capsule - NASA

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Orion's Splash Down Moment - NASA

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Splash down moment of the Orion capsule - NASA

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Artemis II mission enters Earth's atmosphere - NASA

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Artemis II mission enters Earth's atmosphere - NASA

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Artemis II mission enters Earth's atmosphere - NASA

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Artemis II mission enters Earth's atmosphere - NASA

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Artemis II mission enters Earth's atmosphere - NASA

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Artemis II mission enters Earth's atmosphere

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Artemis II mission enters Earth's atmosphere - NASA

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View of Earth from the return of the Artemis II mission - NASA

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Image of Earth's atmosphere, recorded by the Artemis II mission - NASA

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Image captures the moment the parachutes are released from Orion - NASA

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Separation of the stripulantes module - NASA

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Separation of the Artemis II mission module - NASA

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Separation of the Artemis II mission module - NASA

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Separation of the Artemis II mission module

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Artemis II mission returns to Earth - NASA

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Artemis II mission returns to Earth - NASA

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Artemis II mission returns to Earth - NASA

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Astronauts of the Artemis II mission

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Astronauts from the Artemis II mission prepare for their return to Earth - NASA

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Artemis on the way to return to Earth

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Artemis before re-entering Earth's atmosphere

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A close-up view, captured by the Artemis II crew, of Vavilov crater on the edge of the oldest and largest Hertzsprung basin - NASA

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Image shows Orion capsule returning towards Earth - NASA

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New photos show details of the Artemis II Mission as an apparition of Venus on the left - Reproduction/NASA

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New photos show details of the Artemis II Mission, such as images of the Earth and the Moon - Reproduction/NASA

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New photos show details of the Artemis II Mission, such as images of the Earth and the Moon - Reproduction/NASA

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New photos show details of the Artemis II Mission such as craters on the Moon - Reproduction/NASA

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New photos show details of the Artemis II Mission, such as images of the Earth and the Moon - Reproduction/NASA

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New photos show details of the Artemis II Mission - Reproduction/NASA

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New photos show details of the Artemis II Mission as the crew gathered with glasses - Reproduction/NASA

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New photos show details of the Artemis II Mission such as craters on the Moon - Reproduction/NASA

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New photos show details of the Artemis II Mission, such as images of the Earth and the Moon - Reproduction/NASA

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First photo

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Solar eclipse seen from Space - Reproduction/NASA

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Artemis astronauts will be able to observe solar eclipse - NASA

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Far side of the Moon - NASA

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Astronauts approach the Moon this Monday (6) - NASA

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The agency highlighted the image moments after the crew began their sleep period and wished the astronauts "sweet dreams" - Disclosure/NASA

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Live images from the Artemis II mission show NASA scientists receiving and analyzing, in real time, photos of the Moon captured by the Orion spacecraft during its approach to the natural satellite - NASA

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Artemis II astronauts hug after historic distance record - NASA

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Artemis II with the Moon in its sights

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Orion captured this high-resolution selfie in space with a camera mounted on one of its solar panel wings during a routine external inspection of the spacecraft on day two of the Artemis II mission.

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Photo of Earth taken by Artemis II revives historic image of Apollo 17 - NASA

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Image of the Moon taken on Artemis II - NASA

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Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen and Reid Wiseman work together inside the Orion spacecraft - NASA

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Astronaut meal on board Orion - NASA

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Orion spacecraft heading to the Moon - NASA

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Image 1 - NASA

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Artemis II Orion spacecraft leaves Earth for the Moon - NASA

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Orion capsule heads towards the Moon - NASA

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NASA camera on the Orion capsule shows the Earth in the background - NASA

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Solar panels of the Orion spacecraft, which is heading to the Moon - NASA

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Commander Reid observing Earth from space - NASA

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Astronaut, Christina Koch, admires the planet - NASA

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This screenshot shows the Lunar Target Plan app, which guides Artemis II astronauts in their lunar science observations. - NASA

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An iPhone displaying a photo of the Moon taken by Reid Wiseman is presented as a frame taken from a NASA video.

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Removal of astronauts from Orion

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Orion capsule on return to Earth

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History of explosions worries
Despite recent advances, Starship has accumulated failures and explosions in previous tests.

In flights carried out in 2025, the ship exploded during experimental missions and scattered debris in areas close to the Caribbean. The company also faced accidents during ground testing in Texas.

Read also: Elon Musk's rocket tries to overcome history of explosions

Even so, SpaceX claims that these failures are part of the rapid development strategy adopted by the company to accelerate the improvement of the rocket.

Artemis II: who are the astronauts who will go to the Moon in NASA's new mission

Source: CNN