Every rocket nerd knows the call when a launch gets postponed: SCRUB! Now investors in SpaceX are going to have to get used to the vagaries of rocket launches too.

Case in point: Thursday's aborted test of the Starship vehicle, the rocket that is key to achieving the vast goals that Elon Musk's space-and-artificial intelligence company set out during its blockbuster IPO.

The mission was set to be the first Starship test flight since SpaceX went public last month. But problems with engines on the Starship booster caused an automatic shut down of the flight. That prompted SpaceX to unload propellant from the vehicle in a bid to figure out what went wrong.

The missed launch prompted the company's stock to fall by more than 3% on Friday, adding to a slide that sent the stock below its IPO price earlier this week.

Musk said on X that two engines on the booster will need to be replaced, and it is possible a flight could occur early next week.