SpaceX Aborts Second Starship V3 Launch Attempt After Ignition
SpaceX aborted the second launch attempt of its Starship V3 rocket on Thursday, shortly after the booster engines ignited. The cancellation occurred weeks after the vehicle's first test flight.
SpaceX abruptly aborted the second launch attempt of its upgraded Starship rocket system on Thursday, moments after the booster engines ignited at the company's South Texas facility. The company did not immediately provide a reason for the abort.
This test was the second for the Starship V3 vehicle, following its inaugural flight in May. The abort comes at a critical time for the company, which recently went public.
CEO Elon Musk stated on X that "some of the engines didn’t start, triggering an automatic launch abort." He indicated the company intended to try again, "hopefully in a few days."
The failed launch attempt occurred following SpaceX's initial public offering on June 12. The company's stock closed below its IPO price on Thursday and fell more than 4% in after-hours trading following the abort.