SpaceX aborted its second attempt to launch the upgraded Starship V3 rocket system on July 16, 2026, just moments after ignition at its South Texas facility.CEO Elon Musk confirmed on X that four of the new Raptor engines failed to start, triggering an automatic abort.The company plans to replace two engines and delay further attempts until next week.This incident follows a mixed May test flight where the Super Heavy booster stage failed during a simulated landing, prompting an FAA review.The aborted launch comes amid a decline in SpaceX’s stock price, which fell below its IPO price of $135 after the failure.The mission aimed to deploy third-generation Starlink satellites, though these are designed to burn up in the atmosphere.

The failure marks another setback for SpaceX’s ambitious plans to establish orbital data centers, with Starlink being its sole profitable business segment.The incident highlights ongoing challenges in perfecting the Starship system, which remains critical to SpaceX’s long-term goals.

The company’s next attempt will require draining propellant from both the Super Heavy booster and upper stage to investigate the cause of the engine failure.