Q&A with Keith Gendreau, principal investigator of the first X-ray space communications experiment (members only)

The Starship upper stage was equipped with six third-generation Raptor engines and one of three optimized for operating in vacuum shut down early during the climb to space. The flight computer kept the other five engines running longer than originally planned to make up for the shortfall, putting the craft on an acceptable sub-orbital trajectory.

The media briefing came after the agency formally pushed back the launch of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station from mid-August to late-September.

The new Cygnus XL spacecraft will deliver more than 11,000 pounds (4,990 kg) of food, science supplies and cargo to the International Space Station. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 6:11 a.m. EDT (2211 UTC).