SpaceX halted the 13th Starship test flight seconds before liftoff on Thursday after several Raptor engines failed to start. The automatic launch abort kept the rocket on the pad at the company’s Starbase complex in South Texas.
The company plans to replace two engines before another attempt, which could take place early next week. Meanwhile, SpaceX stock closed at $131.11, below its $135 initial public offering price, before falling about 3% in extended trading.
Starship was scheduled to launch at 5:45 p.m. Central Time when the Super Heavy booster began its ignition sequence. The system stopped the countdown less than a second before liftoff. SpaceX’s webcast data appeared to show that four of the booster’s 33 engines did not ignite.
Elon Musk confirmed the engine issue after the launch window closed. “Some of the engines didn’t start, triggering an automatic launch abort,” he wrote on X. SpaceX did not identify the affected units or explain why two engines will be replaced when the broadcast display appeared to show four inactive engines.
The rocket stayed upright on the launch mount as the operating engines shut down. The launch team then began draining liquid oxygen and methane from the booster and upper stage. Technicians must complete this process before inspecting or replacing the engine hardware.
Musk said the company would remove and replace two Raptor engines ‘to be confident of a good flight.’ He added that the ‘most probable launch timing is early next week.’ SpaceX has not issued a detailed early report on the ignition fault or announced a firm launch date.
The abort system acted before Starship left the pad, preventing the vehicle from beginning flight with too few engines. SpaceX must now review launch data, complete repairs and repeat required checks before clearing the rocket for a countdown.
The planned mission follows Starship Flight 12, which launched on May 22. Its upper stage reached space, but the Super Heavy booster suffered an anomaly during its return over the Gulf. The Federal Aviation Administration required a SpaceX-led review and closed the investigation on July 13.
SpaceX shares ended Thursday at $131.11, marking their first close below the $135 IPO price. The stock fell about 3% after hours following the launch abort. The decline extended a five-session losing streak after its early rise on public markets.
SpaceX raised $75 billion in its June offering, setting a record for an IPO. The total reached about $85.7 billion after underwriters exercised their option for more shares. The stock has since moved well below its post-listing high as the market weighs the company’s valuation and execution schedule.
The aborted launch gave shareholders another update on Starship’s development. The program requires repeated tests before SpaceX can use the vehicle for satellite, deep-space or crewed missions. Thursday’s attempt ended before flight, so the rocket did not experience an in-air mishap.
Flight 13 was set to carry 20 next-generation Starlink satellites during an hourlong test. The satellites were expected to contact Starlinks already in orbit and take images of Starship’s heat shield. They were designed to burn up after deployment, while both rocket stages were set to end their flights in the sea.
The upgraded Starship and Starlink systems form part of SpaceX’s plan to expand satellite internet capacity. Larger satellites require more launch capability, placing the rocket’s test schedule alongside the company’s Starlink rollout and commercial targets.
NASA also plans to use a Starship-based lunar lander under its Artemis program. SpaceX must complete several vehicle and in-space tests before the system can support astronaut missions. NASA has not announced any schedule change tied to Thursday’s aborted launch.
The next test depends on engine replacements, inspections and a new launch schedule. SpaceX has not said whether the engines shared one fault or faced separate problems. The company’s next countdown will provide the first test of the repairs made after Thursday’s ignition failure.
Also Read: SpaceX IPO Plans $75 Billion Raise as Starlink Profits Fund Costly AI Expansion