SpaceX Starship Explodes During Test Flight in Texas

During a routine test at the Texas Starbase near Boca Chica Beach, SpaceX’s Starship caught fire and was engulfed in a large explosion just after 11 p.m. local time. Witnesses in the surrounding communities reported feeling their homes shake from the blast, which scattered debris across the area.

The incident occurred during preparations for the tenth flight test of Ship 36. Officials confirmed a “major anomaly” took place while the rocket was stationary on a test stand. Despite the dramatic explosion, SpaceX stated that safety measures were in place, all personnel are safe, and no injuries were reported.

Footage from a live stream showed a bright fireball erupting from the top of the rocket before the sky lit up white, illuminating the night as debris flew around the site. The explosion caused the test stand and the rocket itself to no longer stand upright, with flames continuing to burn for approximately two hours afterward.

This incident marks the latest setback in SpaceX’s testing program. In May, a previous Starship test successfully launched into orbit but was lost upon re-entry. Other tests in recent months, including a March launch, also experienced explosions, although the company managed to recover some components, such as the Super Heavy boosters, which were caught by the “Mechazilla” mechanical arms at the launch site.

Starship aims to be a fully reusable spacecraft to lower costs and support future missions to the Moon and Mars. Despite setbacks, SpaceX continues to push forward with its ambitious plans. Elon Musk has yet to publicly comment on the latest explosion.