space
Starship launch scrubbed: Last-second issue delays launch
Summary by The Brownsville Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Steve Clark , MyRGV
· July 16, 2026
· 2 min read
SpaceX scrubbed the launch of Starship/Super Heavy from Boca Chica just as the Super Heavy booster was about to ignite its 33 engines for liftoff. There was no immediate word about what issue triggered the abort.
Flight 13 was to have been the second flight of the third version of Starship/Super ...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The Brownsville Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Steve Clark, MyRGV Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 16, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway Flight 13 was to have been the second flight of the third version of Starship/Super Heavy, which stands more than 400-feet tall on the launch pad when stacked.
Why this matters in The Brownsville
The scrubbed launch of Starship/Super Heavy from Boca Chica is a setback for SpaceX's ambitions in the Rio Grande Valley, but it's not uncommon in the development of complex space technology. What's significant for Brownsville is that the launch site at Boca Chica continues to be a hub of activity, with SpaceX investing heavily in the area. The presence of the Starbase launch site has already brought economic benefits to the region, and successful launches will only add to the city's reputation as a major player in the space industry. As the city looks to capitalize on the growth of the space sector, the success of SpaceX's operations at Boca Chica will be crucial. The fact that Flight 13 was planned to deploy actual Starlink satellites also highlights the potential for the launch site to support commercial activities, which could have a lasting impact on the local economy.
About this story
Original reporting by MyRGV . The Brownsville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit MyRGV . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: space ·
Published: July 16, 2026 ·
Source: MyRGV ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? SpaceX scrubbed the launch of Starship/Super Heavy from Boca Chica just as the Super Heavy booster was about to ignite its 33 engines for liftoff. There was no immediate word about what issue triggered the abort.
Flight 13 was to have been the second flight of the third version of Starship/Super ...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 16, 2026 by MyRGV and curated for The Brownsville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Steve Clark at MyRGV. To learn more about how The Brownsville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more space coverage from The Brownsville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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