SpaceX, the private aerospace manufacturer founded by Elon Musk, has cancelled its long-awaited Starship launch program due to a brief and baffling ignition delay. The company did not immediately provide any explanation for what went wrong during the pre-ride checks on Tuesday morning.
The news sent shockwaves through the tech world as SpaceX's stock plummeted over 4% in after-hours trading before stabilizing slightly overnight. The company's shares had been under pressure all day, with many investors buying up the stock in anticipation of a successful launch.
Musk has yet to comment on the issue, and it remains unclear what caused the delay. "We're still investigating," he tweeted earlier today, but added that the cause is not related to any known issues or concerns. The Starship program was initially touted as a potential game-changer for space travel, with the ability to transport both people and cargo to the Moon and other destinations in the solar system.