Texas: A dramatic explosion occurred during a static fire test of SpaceX’s Starship-36 at the company’s Starbase testing facility in Texas, shaking nearby buildings and sending flames and thick smoke billowing into the sky. The incident took place at approximately 09:30 AM IST (midnight local time) as part of preparations for the rocket’s 10th scheduled test flight on June 29.
Rocket Turns Into Fireball Mid-Test
The blast erupted from the upper section of the rocket, where the fuel tanks are housed. Within moments, Starship-36 transformed into a massive fireball, alarming residents in the surrounding areas. Reports say the shockwave was strong enough to shake windows of nearby homes.
Footage captured during the test, which was being streamed live on the NASA Spaceflight YouTube channel, shows a sudden ignition near the rocket’s nose, followed by a full-scale explosion.
No Injuries Reported, But Extensive Damage to Rocket
SpaceX released an official statement confirming that no employees or civilians were injured, and that strict safety protocols had been in place at the time of the incident. However, the rocket and parts of the test infrastructure have sustained significant damage.
The Cameron County Sheriff’s Office and local emergency services responded swiftly. Firefighters worked to contain the blaze, while authorities urged the public to stay away from the test site during ongoing firefighting and investigation efforts.
Explosion Linked to Fuel Loading Process
According to commentators during the live broadcast, the explosion occurred about 30 minutes after fuel loading had begun. The incident happened during a static fire test, a ground procedure where the rocket's engines are ignited while it remains secured to the launch mount.
Pattern of Failures Continues for Starship Program
This marks the fourth major failure for the Starship program in 2025 alone. The rocket’s seventh, eighth, and ninth test flights also ended in explosions or loss of control. This latest setback casts further uncertainty over the 10th test flight timeline.
SpaceX engineers are now analyzing the failure, with early signs pointing to possible faults in the fuel tanks or propulsion system.
FAA Investigation Underway
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be launching an investigation into the explosion. In the past, similar failures led to temporary suspensions of SpaceX’s test licenses. If history repeats, this could result in further delays to the company’s test flight schedule.
Despite this setback, SpaceX is expected to resume preparations for the next phase of testing soon, as the company continues its ambitious push toward deep-space missions.