SpaceX Starship launch scrub hits shares

SpaceX (SPCX)’s 13th test flight of its Starship mega rocket was aborted at the last moment on July 16, 2026, at the company’s Starbase facility in Texas. The countdown reached zero and the rocket began its startup sequence, but the launch was automatically scrubbed on the pad before liftoff. The vehicle, standing 407 feet tall, was prepared for a test mission that would have carried 20 Starlink V3 satellites.

The launch sequence progressed to engine ignition on the Super Heavy booster, which uses 33 Raptor engines. As the engines started to light, the automated system detected a problem and halted the attempt, keeping the rocket secured to the pad. Neither the first‑stage booster nor the upper‑stage spacecraft had been scheduled for recovery on this flight.

Telemetry displayed during the live broadcast showed that multiple Raptor engines on the booster failed to ignite during the startup sequence. At least four engines did not start, leaving the rocket short of the full set required for liftoff. With not all 33 engines firing, the automatic launch system shut everything down to keep the vehicle and pad in a safe configuration.

Elon Musk later stated on X that “some of the engines didn’t start, triggering an automatic launch abort.” He added that teams were “now offloading propellant” and that a “next launch attempt [is] hopefully in a few days.” The company indicated that engineers plan to remove and replace two Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster before making another attempt.

Following the scrub, SpaceX teams began offloading millions of pounds of superchilled liquid methane and liquid oxygen propellant to return the rocket to a safe state. Ground crews are expected to inspect the engines and associated systems to determine why some units failed to ignite. The company has not announced a specific new launch date, beyond the indication that another attempt could come within days once the hardware work is complete.

The halted mission was intended to advance Starship’s test program while deploying 20 Starlink V3 satellites. The plan called for expending both stages rather than recovering them, reflecting the experimental nature of the flight. The abort means those satellites remain on the ground until Starship is cleared for another launch opportunity.

News of the last‑second abort weighed on SpaceX’s stock in after‑hours trading on July 16. Shares were reported to be trading lower following the scrubbed attempt, extending weakness that has coincided with the company’s ongoing Starship test campaign after its June IPO. Investors will be watching closely for updates on the engine issue and the timing of the next launch attempt.

The aborted flight marked the first major Starship launch attempt since the company went public. While no damage to the vehicle or pad has been reported in the immediate aftermath, the need to diagnose engine ignition problems and replace hardware adds a new step before Starship can return to the launch pad for its next test.