SpaceX scrubbed the launch of its Starship mega rocket on Thursday, with CEO Elon Musk pledging to make another attempt 'hopefully in a few days.' A 90-minute launch window opened at 6:45 p.m. ET, and within minutes, the reusable rocket maker announced on a livestream that it was standing down for the day. 'Some of the engines didn't start, triggering an automatic launch abort,' Musk wrote in a post on X. Shares of SpaceX fell more than 3% in extended trading, sinking further beneath its IPO price of $135. It would have been the first test flight of Starship V3, an upgraded version of its roughly 400-foot-tall rocket, since SpaceX's blockbuster initial public offering last month.
SpaceX Details Engine Failure During Launch Sequence
The rocket was poised for takeoff from SpaceX's Starbase complex in South Texas when a hold was triggered on the booster, which 'shut down the engines right as they were starting to ignite,' a SpaceX employee said on the livestream. The automatic abort system activated when some of the engines failed to start during the ignition sequence.
SpaceX Stocks Fall 3% Following Launch Abort
Shares of SpaceX fell more than 3% in extended trading, sliding to close at $131.11. The stock is on a five-day losing streak and briefly dipped below its $135 IPO price on Wednesday. With the IPO, SpaceX raised a total of $85.7 billion, including the underwriters' option, making it the largest IPO on record.
FAA Clears Starship After Prior May Test Anomaly
An earlier V3 test launch in May did not go perfectly. After a successful liftoff, several engines in the bottom stage of the rocket failed to reignite to help guide it to a soft landing, causing it to plummet into the Gulf of Mexico. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered SpaceX to investigate the anomaly, and on Monday, the agency cleared Starship to fly again. 'The final mishap report cites two most probable root causes for the loss of the Super Heavy booster as heat effects on propulsion system components during the ascent and erroneous engine alarm system settings,' the FAA said in a statement. SpaceX identified four corrective actions, including vehicle hardware and software updates, 'to prevent a reoccurrence of the event,' the agency said.
Starship Mission Planned to Deploy 20 Starlink Satellites
As part of Thursday's mission, Starship planned to ferry 20 functioning, next-generation Starlink satellites, which were expected to extend their solar arrays and antennas, then attempt to connect with the broader Starlink constellation, SpaceX said. The satellites are expected to 'demise upon reentry approximately 20 minutes after deployment,' the company noted. Investors are closely watching the 13th Starship test flight as the giant rocket is key to SpaceX ambitions to scale its Starlink satellite internet service, and to complete Artemis test flights with NASA as it aims for the U.S. space agency's next moon landing.
FAQ
What caused SpaceX to abort the Starship launch on Thursday?
Some of the engines didn't start during the ignition sequence, triggering an automatic launch abort. A hold was triggered on the booster, which 'shut down the engines right as they were starting to ignite,' according to a SpaceX employee on the livestream.
How did the launch abort affect SpaceX stock price?
Shares of SpaceX fell more than 3% in extended trading, closing at $131.11. The stock is on a five-day losing streak and has fallen below its IPO price of $135.
