SpaceX Starship explodes during routine ground test

A SpaceX Starship rocket, designated Starship 36, exploded late Wednesday night during a standard ground test at the Starbase facility in southern Texas, near the Mexico border. According to Cameron County authorities, the incident occurred shortly after 11:00 p.m. during a routine static fire procedure a test that involves igniting the rocket’s engines while it remains anchored to the ground.

Video footage of the event captured a sudden flash and a massive fireball while the rocket remained attached to the launch arm. SpaceX confirmed the rocket was undergoing preparations for its tenth test flight when it encountered a major malfunction, though the company did not detail the nature of the failure.

Authorities reassured the public that no injuries occurred and that all personnel were safe. They also emphasized that there was no danger to nearby communities but advised against approaching the area during ongoing safety operations.

The explosion is the latest in a series of technical setbacks for the Starship program. In late May, another prototype exploded over the Indian Ocean after its Super Heavy booster malfunctioned. Previous test flights also ended unsuccessfully, with upper stages failing during flight.

Despite the challenges, the Starship project remains central to Elon Musk’s vision of future space exploration, including potential missions to Mars. The towering 403-foot rocket is the largest and most powerful ever built, designed to be fully reusable and capable of carrying up to 150 metric tons.

SpaceX continues to pursue a "fail fast, learn fast" approach, which has helped it become a leader in the commercial space sector. The company has already performed several daring feats, including catching the Super Heavy booster with launch tower robotic arms critical for improving reusability and reducing launch costs.

NASA is increasingly dependent on SpaceX, relying on its Dragon spacecraft to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station. In May, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration approved increasing annual Starship test launches from five to 25, concluding the expansion would not harm the environment. This decision came despite concerns raised by conservationists about risks to local wildlife such as sea turtles and shorebirds.