SpaceX Aborts Starship V3 Launch Due to Engine Failure After IPO
On July 16, 2026, SpaceX aborted the 13th Starship test flight at its Starbase in South Texas after four of 33 Raptor engines failed to ignite, triggering an automatic abort at liftoff. This was the first payload mission, carrying 20 Starlink V3 satellites, and the first launch since SpaceX’s record $85.7 billion IPO in June. CEO Elon Musk stated the next attempt would come in a few days. The abort sent SpaceX stock below its $135 IPO price, adding pressure on the company’s ambitious lunar and orbital goals.
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SpaceX stock attempts recovery after hitting all-time low
SpaceX (SPCX) stock is attempting to recover after hitting an all-time low of $109.53 on Monday, following a successful Starship test flight on Friday. Shares are down nearly 30% from their $150 IPO debut last month and 50% from their all-time high. Investor caution persists ahead of the company's Q2 earnings report on August 4 and a major share unlock on August 6, when up to 20% of shares become eligible for sale. The successful Starship flight deployed 20 Starlink V3 satellites and achieved a soft ocean splashdown, though the Super Heavy booster failed to light all engines for landing. SpaceX is shifting focus from Falcon 9 to Starship, turning away satellite customers for Falcon 9 beyond 2028. Analysts urge patience, citing Starship's reliability and cost of refurbishment as key uncertainties.
SpaceX launches Starship on 13th test flight with advanced Starlinks
SpaceX successfully launched its Starship rocket on its 13th test flight from Starbase, Texas, on July 24, 2026. The flight carried the most advanced Starlink satellites, which were deployed to test laser communication with older models. Six of the Starlinks carried cameras to photograph Starship's heat shield, which also had sensors and painted tiles to simulate damage. The booster and spacecraft were not recovered, splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico and Indian Ocean respectively. The flight was delayed by a July 16 launch abort due to engine failures and later by Tropical Storm Bertha. NASA is monitoring the test as critical for using Starship as a lunar lander for Artemis III astronauts. Elon Musk also plans to use Starship for Mars colonization and tourist trips.
SpaceX Starship Flight 13 Attempt After Engine Abort and Weather Scrub; Prediction Markets Assess Odds
SpaceX is set to attempt the launch of its Starship rocket for the third time in nine days on July 25, 2026, following an engine abort on July 16 and a weather scrub on July 23. The launch window opens at 6:45 p.m. EDT from Starbase, Texas. Neither stage will be recovered, with the Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage targeting controlled splashdowns. Prediction market Polymarket assigns an 81% chance of a successful launch today and a 72% chance of a controlled Starship splashdown. The mission will attempt to deploy 20 V3 Starlink satellites, which are too large for Falcon 9. Six satellites carry cameras to scan Starship's heat shield. The launch is critical for SpaceX's valuation, as SPCX stock trades near $117, 13% below its June listing price, amid broader pressure on Musk's business empire including a Tesla earnings miss.
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Why the Launch of the Giant Rocket Is 'a Small Miracle'
SpaceX's Starship rocket successfully completed its 13th test flight on July 25, 2026. Space expert and former astronaut Ulrich Walter described the achievement as a 'small miracle,' highlighting the technical challenges overcome. The article also provides perspective on Elon Musk's ambitious plans for Mars colonization, noting the significant hurdles that remain despite this milestone. The test flight marks continued progress in SpaceX's development of the world's largest rocket, which is central to Musk's vision of interplanetary travel.
SpaceX's Giant Rocket Completes 13th Test Flight Successfully
On July 25, 2026, SpaceX successfully completed the 13th test flight of its Starship, the largest rocket system in spaceflight history. The rocket launched from Texas, deployed 20 Starlink satellites into orbit, and splashed down into the sea as planned. The mission, led by Elon Musk, marks another milestone in the development of the fully reusable launch system, which aims to reduce space travel costs and support future missions to the Moon and Mars. The flight was largely successful, with all major objectives achieved.
SpaceX's Giant Rocket Completes 13th Test Flight Successfully
On July 25, 2026, SpaceX successfully completed the 13th test flight of its Starship rocket system, the largest in spaceflight history. The rocket launched from Texas, deployed 20 Starlink satellites into orbit, and splashed down into the sea as planned. The mission marks another milestone for Elon Musk's space company, demonstrating continued progress in reusable rocket technology and satellite deployment capabilities.
SpaceX launches massive Starship rocket in first test flight since IPO
SpaceX conducted the 13th test flight of its Starship rocket on July 24, 2026, from Starbase, Texas, marking the first test since the company's IPO last month. The Super Heavy booster made a hard splashdown in the Gulf after only a subset of engines ignited for landing. The Starship upper stage achieved a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean, providing the first intact heatshield views. During the flight, SpaceX successfully deployed 20 new Starlink V3 satellites, which are larger and more powerful than previous generations. The company is also developing Starmind satellites for orbital data centers. Starship is crucial for expanding Starlink, NASA's lunar missions, and eventual Mars missions. However, SpaceX's stock has fallen 43% from its June peak, and experts note the company still faces challenges in achieving rapid reusability.
SpaceX launches 13th Starship test flight, first since IPO, deploys Starlink V3 satellites
SpaceX conducted its 13th test flight of the massive Starship rocket on July 24, 2026, from Starbase, Texas, marking the first such flight since the company's record IPO last month. The Super Heavy booster detached about two minutes into flight and made a hard splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico after only a subset of its engines reignited. The Starship upper stage achieved a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean, remaining intact and providing views of an intact heatshield for the first time. About 18 minutes into the flight, SpaceX successfully deployed 20 new Starlink V3 satellites into orbit, which were designed to burn up after 20 minutes. These satellites are larger and more powerful than earlier versions. The test flight is crucial for SpaceX's ambitions to expand Starlink, return astronauts to the moon, and eventually power Mars missions. However, SpaceX stock has dropped 43% from its June peak, and experts note the company still faces challenges in achieving rapid reusability.
SpaceX launches Starship on 13th test flight with advanced Starlink satellites
SpaceX successfully launched its Starship rocket on its 13th test flight from Starbase, Texas, on July 24, 2026. The flight carried the most advanced Starlink satellites yet, which were deployed to test laser communication with older Starlink models. Six of the satellites carried cameras to photograph Starship's heat shield, which also had sensors to measure pressure. The booster and spacecraft were not recovered, ditching into the Gulf of Mexico and Indian Ocean respectively. The launch was delayed from July 16 due to a last-second abort caused by engine ignition failures, and again by Tropical Storm Bertha. NASA is monitoring the test as critical for using Starship as a lunar lander for the Artemis III mission, while Elon Musk continues to promote Starship for Mars colonization.
SpaceX Starship 13th Flight Largely Successful but Engine Reliability Issues Persist
On July 24, 2026, SpaceX's Starship completed its 13th test flight, successfully deploying 20 Starlink V3 satellites into space for the first time. The 122-meter rocket launched from Texas after a previous abort due to oxygen pump problems. However, engine reliability remains a weak point: during the booster's braking maneuver before landing in the Gulf of Mexico, only about 5 of 13 intended engines ignited, causing a harder-than-planned water impact. The upper stage landed intact and floated. The mission did not achieve a full orbit or booster catch at the launch tower. SpaceX's stock, which debuted in mid-June at $135, has fallen to around $113, with the recent launch abort causing a 3-4% drop. The company must solve engine issues before attempting the next milestone of catching both stages with the 'Mechazilla' arms.
SpaceX Launches Starship in 13th Test Flight, First Since IPO
SpaceX conducted its 13th test flight of the massive Starship rocket on July 24, 2026, from Starbase, Texas, marking the first such test since the company's record IPO last month. The Super Heavy booster made a controlled splashdown in the Gulf, while the upper stage achieved a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean, deemed a resounding success by employees. During the 18-minute flight, SpaceX deployed 20 new Starlink V3 satellites into orbit, which were designed to burn up after about 20 minutes. These satellites are larger and more powerful, with solar arrays generating twice the power of earlier versions. Starship is crucial for expanding Starlink, returning astronauts to the moon, and eventual Mars missions. The test flight was delayed from Thursday due to weather and earlier from July 16 due to a technical hold. SpaceX's stock has fallen 43% from its June 16 peak, dropping in four of the past five weeks.
SpaceX launches Starship on 13th test flight with most advanced Starlink satellites
SpaceX successfully launched its Starship rocket on its 13th test flight from Starbase, Texas, on July 24, 2026. The 407-foot-tall rocket, the world's largest and most powerful, carried the most advanced Starlink satellites yet. Six of the 33 first-stage booster engines had failed to ignite during a previous launch attempt on July 16, causing an abort, but were replaced for this flight. The booster was not recovered, instead ditching in the Gulf of Mexico, while the spacecraft was bound for the Indian Ocean. The deployed Starlinks, carrying cameras to photograph Starship's heat shield, attempted laser communication with older Starlink models. NASA monitored the flight as a critical step toward using Starship as a lunar lander for the Artemis III mission. SpaceX also aims to eventually recover the spacecraft using giant mechanical arms at the launch pad.
SpaceX Starship Flight 13 to Launch First 20 Starlink V3 Satellites; Stock Down 49% from High
SpaceX is preparing for its third attempt at Starship Flight 13, carrying the first 20 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites. The launch window opens at 6:45 p.m. ET on July 24, 2026, from Starbase, Texas. Previous attempts were aborted due to engine issues and weather. Each V3 satellite offers about 1 terabit per second downlink capacity, roughly 10 times current generation. The stock (SPCX) trades near $112, about 1% above its all-time low and 49% below its high, with a market value near $1.5 trillion despite ongoing losses. A successful deployment would demonstrate the next-generation satellite technology working in space ahead of SpaceX's first quarterly earnings report as a public company on August 4.
SpaceX Moves Starship Launch to Thursday; Market Impact and Investor Implications
SpaceX has rescheduled its 13th Starship test flight to Thursday, July 23, after an automated abort on July 16 due to four engine ignition failures. The abort erased $100 billion in market cap, highlighting Starship's critical role in SpaceX's valuation. The company plans to replace two Raptor engines and has made hardware/software changes to fix directional issues from test flight 12. Starship is central to SpaceX's AI strategy, including orbital data centers and AI compute satellites expected by 2028. Analysts view the setback as a short-term noise in a long-term infrastructure cycle, though the stock remains under pressure. The test will aim for successful launch, ascent, stage separation, and landing in the Gulf of America.
SpaceX Reschedules Starship Launch to Thursday; Market Implications Analyzed
SpaceX has rescheduled its 13th Starship test flight to Thursday, July 23, after aborting the launch on July 16 due to four of 33 engines failing to ignite. The article highlights that Starship is central to SpaceX's valuation, particularly its AI unit focused on orbital data centers. The market reacted negatively to the abort, erasing $100 billion in market cap. SpaceX plans to replace two Raptor engines and has made software/hardware changes to address directional flip issues from test flight 12. The company expects orbital payload delivery by late 2026 and AI compute satellites by 2028. Analysts view the setback as minor in a long-term infrastructure cycle.
SpaceX's Starship Flight 13 Fails to Launch; Stock Faces Another Delay
SpaceX's 13th test launch of the Starship megarocket was scrubbed at T-0 after at least four Raptor engines failed to ignite. The rocket, a cornerstone of Elon Musk's space ambitions, remains on the pad with propellant removed; a second attempt is planned for Monday. This delay raises concerns for SpaceX investors, especially given competition from Blue Origin, which is focusing on lunar lander missions for NASA. The Trump Administration's 2028 goal for Artemis IV and China's 2030 lunar target add urgency. SpaceX's stock (SPCX) fell 5.43% on the news. The article notes Musk's history of missed deadlines at Tesla but warns that the current space race leaves less room for error.
SpaceX Stock Plunges Nearly 23% After Starship Test Flight Aborted
SpaceX's stock has fallen nearly 23% since being added to the Nasdaq-100 index, with a 5.43% drop on Friday marking its sixth consecutive losing day. The decline follows the abort of a Starship V3 test flight on Thursday due to an engine ignition failure, which triggered an automatic launch abort. Elon Musk stated that two Raptor engines will be replaced and a new launch attempt is planned for early next week. The company had a record-breaking $85.7 billion IPO in June, pricing shares at $135. Investors are closely monitoring rocket tests after the stock's volatile performance since its market debut. The FAA recently cleared SpaceX to continue test trials after a previous mishap in May.
Why SpaceX Stock Dropped on Friday
SpaceX stock (SPCX) fell 4.7% on Friday, July 17, 2026, dropping below $125 per share and officially becoming a 'broken IPO' trading $10 below its initial offering price. The primary catalyst was the forced scrub of Starship's 13th test flight after two Raptor engines on the Super Heavy booster failed to ignite. CEO Elon Musk stated the engines need replacement, delaying the launch until early next week. The article argues the sell-off is an overreaction, noting that Starship is a long-term project critical for deploying V.2 and V.3 Starlink satellites and for NASA's lunar ambitions. The author suggests the delay poses minimal harm compared to the risk of a failed flight. The piece concludes by advising that the investment thesis for SpaceX remains unchanged despite the temporary setback.
SpaceX stock drops after Starship test flight aborted due to engine failure
SpaceX stock fell for a fifth consecutive session in premarket trading on Friday, July 17, 2026, after an engine failure forced the company to abort a Starship rocket test flight at the last second on Thursday. The stock was trading around $126.58 per share, roughly $9 below the $135 IPO price, after shedding about 3.5% on the day. The launch attempt was cut short when an engine ignition failure triggered an automatic abort before liftoff. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated that some engines did not start and that the team would swap out a pair of Raptor engines, targeting early next week for another attempt. This was SpaceX's first Starship test since its June IPO, which raised $85.7 billion. The company has faced financial challenges, posting a net loss of $4.9 billion in 2025 and an additional $4.28 billion loss in the first quarter of 2026.
SpaceX shares fall after Starship test flight is called off before launch
SpaceX shares fell approximately 4% in pre-market trading on July 17, 2026, after the company aborted the 13th test flight of its Starship rocket minutes before launch from Texas. CEO Elon Musk stated the launch was automatically halted due to multiple engines failing to ignite properly, with another attempt possible in a few days. The cancellation adds pressure on SpaceX stock, which had already dropped below its IPO price earlier in the week. Wolfe Research analyst Myles Walton noted that a successful next launch would boost investor confidence ahead of SpaceX's first earnings call in early August and the critical Flight #14 orbital test. The delay also comes before a significant increase in freely tradable shares in August, which could further pressure the stock. Starship has faced recurring engine issues, including during its 12th test flight in May, which prompted an FAA investigation.