SpaceX NASDAQ:SPCX fell about 4.19% intraday after its Starship rocket triggered a last-second abort before liftoff on Thursday, when some of the vehicle's 33 engines failed to start. The rocket company, which completed the largest IPO in history last month, had targeted the evening launch from its Starbase site in South Texas. CEO Elon Musk said a new attempt is likely early next week.
The scrubbed flight was the 13th Starship test and the second for the latest version of the rocket, known as V3. It was set to carry upgraded Starlink satellites designed to burn up in the atmosphere as part of the mission. Starship is central to Musk's ambitions across space, satellite, and AI, making its test cadence a closely watched marker of progress.
SpaceX shares closed at $131.11 on Thursday, dropping below the $135 IPO price for the first time. The stock has now given back its early post-listing gains as it approaches its first earnings report and the lock-up expirations that follow.