SpaceX halts Starship launch at last minute
ICT Desk
This is the moment SpaceX broke the news that the launch was halted for the day - minutes ahead of the scheduled launch time.
The rocket can't just sit on a launch pad for days on end, full of fuel, waiting to lift off.
The propellants are super-chilled and they constantly need to be replenished during a countdown as some of the liquid warms up and vents to the atmosphere.
SpaceX must de-tank while they work through their valve issue and decide on a new flight day.
The rocket doesn't have the equipment on board to main the liquid methane and liquid oxygen in the correct storage state for extended periods.
This equipment is all off to the side of the launch pad in an area called "the tank farm".
