NewsWorld newsSpaceXLIVEUpdated 2 mins agoElon Musk’s spaceflight company is set to launch the 12th test flight of the Starship spacecraft tonight after calling off yesterday's scheduled launch due to a series of last-minute issuesSpaceX is set to launch its 12th test flight tonight(Image: Joe Marino/UPI/Shutterstock)SpaceX is set to launch the 12th test flight of its massive Starship spacecraft tonight.Elon Musk’s aerospace company is preparing to launch Starship during ‌a 90-minute ⁠launch window which opens at 5.30pm Central Time (11.30pm BST).SpaceX was within 30 seconds of launching the test flight yesterday when it called off the launch after a number of problems arose with the brand-new pad at Starbase, near the Mexican border.Musk said the hydraulic pin holding the launch tower’s arm in place did not retract, adding that if the problem can be fixed quickly, another launch attempt will be made on Friday.A SpaceX representative said during the livestream: "New rocket, new pad. We're learning a lot about these systems as we execute them for the first time and we're not able to troubleshoot all of these issues in the final seconds to get to launch."View PostToday21:47 BSTUpgrades on rocket include greater thrustOne of the principal upgrades to the booster rocket is a revamping of its 33 Raptor engines to produce greater thrust from a design that weighs significantly less.The propulsion system of the upper-stage Starship has similarly been refined for long-duration missions, with mechanisms to allow for ship-to-ship docking, refueling in space and increased maneuverability.A key measure of success for future test outings will be post-flight recovery of Starship and the Super Heavy booster, which are being developed as reusable vehicles.SpaceX said it would not attempt to safely land or retrieve either portion of the spacecraft from this launch. But test objectives include execution of several return-flight maneuvers by the booster and Starship ‌itself, including ⁠controlled landing burns before each vehicle splashes down at sea.Today21:41 BSTSpaceX launch comes as Musk plans to inject money with IPOElon Musk is preparing for the launch after announcing one of the biggest stock sales ever by making SpaceX publicA filing shows that his SpaceX lost $2.6 billion from operations last year on $18.7 billion in revenue, and the losses kept piling up at the start of this year, too.The prospectus did not put a figure on the amount Musk hopes to raise, but various reports have put it at $75 billion or so. An offering of that size would easily surpass the current title holder, Saudi Aramco, the oil giant that went public seven years ago and raised $26 billion.SpaceX, formally known as Space Exploration Technologies Corp., has said the money will help finance projects to put people on the moon and Mars in its quest to make humans an intergalactic species as they face existential threats that could wipe out civilization.Elon Musk has announced an IPO for SpaceX(Image: AFP via Getty Images)Today21:36 BSTStarship is the 'world's most powerful launch vehicle', says SpaceXStarship Version 3 - the latest version of the megarocket - stands 407ft tall and has a diameter of roughly 30ft."SpaceX's Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket - collectively referred to as Starship - represent a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond," Space X says."Starship is the world's most powerful launch vehicle ever developed, designed to carry more than 100 metric tonnes to orbit in a fully reusable configuration."‌Today21:33 BSTWhen does the live webcast of the 12th flight test begin?A live webcast of the 12th flight test will begin about 45 minutes before liftoff and will be available on the SpaceX website and on @SpaceX.The webcast is scheduled for 10.45pm BST (4.45pm CT). As is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule is dynamic and may change, SpaceX says.Vehicles have been depositing fuel ahead of launch(Image: Joe Marino/UPI/Shutterstock)Today21:32 BSTStarship was within 30 seconds of launching on ThursdaySpaceX got within a half-minute of launching its newest and biggest Starship on a test flight Thursday evening before a cascade of problems halted the countdown.The 407ft (124m) rocket was poised to begin a space-skimming journey from Texas but issues cropped up with the brand-new pad at Starbase near the Mexican border, and the company ran out of time.SpaceX CEO Elon Musk later said the hydraulic pin holding the launch tower’s arm in place did not retract and another attempt will be made today.‌