New York (CNN Business) Elon Musk's rocket company, SpaceX, is ramping up early testing of technology that could one day carry people deep into the solar system.

The latest test flight of a prototype spacecraft, nicknamed "Starhopper," was called off Wednesday before it left the ground, as plumes of smoke engulfed a development site in South Texas and bursts of flames surrounded the vehicle.

It was slated to fly its highest "hop" test yet, to about 65 feet off the ground, and SpaceX set up a webcast for the event. But the attempt was aborted just moments after the rocket's massive engine fired up.

The vehicle appeared to be undamaged, and the SpaceX team considered moving forward with a second attempt. But ultimately that was called off as well.

Musk explained in a tweet that the "chamber pressure" in the rocket was "high due to colder than expected propellant."

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