SpaceX abruptly called off its second attempt at launching the upgraded Starship rocket system on Thursday. The booster ignited for a brief moment before failing, prompting an automatic abort. CEO Elon Musk confirmed that two engines failed to start and noted that replacement engines will be installed.
The company now plans to launch again next week, with hopes of sending third-generation Starlink satellites into space, despite the rockets not yet demonstrating full orbital capabilities. This marks SpaceX’s first major test since its record-breaking IPO in June, which briefly valued it higher than Amazon and Microsoft but saw a steady decline in stock prices.
SpaceX was eager to demonstrate progress with the V3 version of Starship after the mixed results of the May mission. That launch saw some successes, including deploying Starlink satellites, though the Super Heavy booster stage failed during its simulated landing attempt. Following this, an FAA review was initiated before SpaceX received clearance to proceed.
The aborted launch on Thursday also put a temporary damper on SpaceX’s stock price, which had sunk more than 4% in after-hours trading following the incident. This setback highlights the complexities and challenges inherent in developing advanced rocket technologies.







