CAPE CANAVERAL, FL — SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket experienced a dramatic auto-abort just moments before its scheduled liftoff on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, halting a planned mission to deploy a batch of Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. The incident occurred at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex 40, with the rocket’s systems triggering an automatic shutdown at T-0, the precise moment of ignition.
According to a statement posted by SpaceX on X at 09:42 IST, “Falcon 9 had an auto abort just prior to T-0. Vehicle and payload are in good health, and teams are resetting for a launch attempt no earlier than Tuesday, May 20.” The company confirmed that both the rocket and its payload of Starlink satellites remain undamaged, and engineers are now working to diagnose the cause of the abort.
The mission, designated Starlink 6-92, was set to launch at 2:28 a.m. EDT, aiming to add another 28 satellites to SpaceX’s growing constellation, which provides global broadband internet coverage. This abort marks a rare occurrence for the Falcon 9, known for its reliability and frequent launches, with over 460 successful flights to date. Similar incidents were noted in posts on X from previous years, including a T-0 engine ignition abort in December 2024 and another in March 2023, highlighting the rarity of such events.
SpaceX has not yet disclosed the specific reason for the abort, but auto-aborts are typically triggered by the rocket’s onboard systems detecting anomalies in parameters like engine performance, fuel pressure, or guidance systems. “These safety mechanisms are designed to protect the vehicle and payload,” said Dr. Emily Carter, a spaceflight analyst at the University of Florida. “SpaceX’s track record shows they prioritize caution, which is why Falcon 9 has such a strong success rate.”
The weather at Cape Canaveral was reported as favorable, ruling out environmental factors as a likely cause. The Florida Today Space Team noted clear skies during the launch window, contrasting with a previous scrubbed attempt on May 12, 2025, due to poor weather conditions. This suggests the issue was likely technical in nature.
SpaceX is now preparing for a follow-up launch attempt, with the next opportunity potentially occurring as early as later today, May 20, pending a thorough review. The company’s rapid turnaround capability is well-documented, with a Falcon 9 first-stage booster recently completing its 28th flight on May 13, 2025, setting a reuse record. The booster for today’s mission was expected to land on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean, continuing SpaceX’s push for reusable rocket technology.
This aborted launch comes amid a busy month for SpaceX, which has already conducted multiple Falcon 9 missions in May, including a Starlink launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 9 and another from Cape Canaveral on May 10. The company is also gearing up for the ninth test flight of its Starship megarocket next week, as announced by CEO Elon Musk, signaling SpaceX’s ambitious plans for 2025.
The space community and enthusiasts expressed mixed reactions on X, with some praising SpaceX’s safety protocols and others eagerly awaiting updates on the rescheduled launch. “Better safe than sorry,” posted user
@SpaceWatcher21. “Falcon 9’s auto-abort system just saved a multi-million-dollar mission.”
SpaceX’s live webcast, typically starting five minutes before liftoff, will resume for the next attempt, available on SpaceX.com. As the company resets, all eyes are on the investigation into today’s abort and the upcoming launch window, underscoring the challenges and precision required in modern spaceflight.
Sources: SpaceX posts on X, Florida Today, space.com
