SpaceX halted the second planned launch of its upgraded Starship V3 just after the booster lit up at the company's South Texas site, pausing a rapid return to flight only weeks after the vehicle's first debut in May.
In a post on X, CEO Elon Musk said several engines failed to start, which automatically triggered the launch abort system. He added that the team expects another attempt in the coming days.
The test also marked the first Starship flight since SpaceX became a public company on June 12 through a record-setting IPO. The offering raised more than $85 billion and briefly lifted the company's valuation into the range of the world's largest tech names.
SpaceX shares ended the session below the IPO price of $135 and eased further in after-hours trading before recovering part of the loss. The next launch window will be closely watched as the company continues refining one of the most ambitious spacecraft programs in development. The outcome may help shape the pace of future reusable spaceflight.
