SpaceX stock drops 4% after scrubbing Starship's 13th test flight

SpaceX shares slid more than 4% in after-hours trading Thursday after the company scrubbed the 13th test flight of its Starship rocket seconds before liftoff, marking a setback for the most powerful launch vehicle ever built.

"The vehicle's automated health checks triggered a hold at T-minus zero, and the team is evaluating the next available launch opportunity," SpaceX said in a statement. The company did not immediately provide a revised launch date for the mission from its Starbase facility in Cameron County, Texas.

The launch window opened at 6:45 p.m. Eastern time with 90 minutes available for liftoff. The scrub came as SpaceX's first Starship test flight since the company went public in June in what was the largest initial public offering of all time. The stock had been up more than 12% since its trading debut before the cancellation erased those gains in after-hours action.

The canceled mission was to carry 20 functional Starlink Version 3 broadband satellites — the first operational payloads for the Starship program — and attempt a Raptor engine relight in space, a capability required before the vehicle can reach orbit. The previous flight in May successfully deployed mock satellites but failed to reignite its engine after one shut down prematurely during ascent. The Super Heavy booster also experienced propulsion problems during its boostback burn, triggering a Federal Aviation Administration mishap investigation that was closed before Thursday's attempt.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.