SPCX dropped 14.7% after SpaceX’s 13th Starship test flight was halted just seconds before liftoff in mid-July 2026. The launch attempt was automatically aborted after multiple Raptor engines did not ignite, turning a closely watched milestone into a fresh setback.
The failed launch attempt has added to investor concern around execution risk in SpaceX’s Starship program. Because Starship is central to the company’s long-term growth narrative, any visible delay or technical problem can quickly weigh on sentiment tied to the business.
The decline also comes as scrutiny grows over SpaceX’s lofty valuation. A premium price can be easier to defend when testing progresses smoothly, but launch interruptions tend to intensify questions about timelines, technical hurdles and whether expectations have run ahead of near-term results.
For markets following SPCX, the combination of a high-profile Starship abort and renewed valuation debate was enough to trigger a sharp sell-off. The move reflects how sensitive investors remain to both operational updates and broader concerns about how aggressively SpaceX is valued.
