SpaceX Starship Prototype Explodes Mid-Test in Texas During 5th Launch Attempt

SpaceX’s Starship prototype explodes during its 5th test launch in Texas, marking a major setback in Elon Musk’s ambitious Mars mission timeline. No injuries reported

A SpaceX Starship prototype erupted in a massive fireball during ground testing late Wednesday, local authorities confirmed, with dramatic footage of the explosion captured live.

The vehicle, known as Ship 36 and designated for an upcoming test flight, was undergoing a routine engine static fire at the company’s Starbase facility in Texas when it suddenly exploded just before midnight.

SpaceX said it was coordinating with local authorities to secure the area around its Starbase test facility following the explosion of a Starship prototype during a late-night engine test.

SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, said it was working with local authorities to secure the area around its Starbase test facility in Texas after a Starship prototype exploded during a late-night engine test.

In a statement posted on X, the company said, “On Wednesday, June 18 at approximately 11 p.m. CT, the Starship preparing for the tenth flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase.”

“A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for,” it added.

“Our Starbase team is actively working to safe the test site and the immediate surrounding area in conjunction with local officials. There are no hazards to residents in surrounding communities, and we ask that individuals do not attempt to approach the area while safing operations continue,” the company added.

The Cameron County Precinct 1 constable’s office said in a Facebook post that SpaceX’s Ship 36 “suffered a catastrophic failure and exploded” shortly after 11 pm.

“Thankfully, no injuries have been reported at this time. Emergency protocols were quickly enacted, and an investigation is now underway to determine the cause of the incident,” the post added.

The prototype was undergoing its second static fire test, a critical step meant to replicate launch conditions and confirm engine reliability. The explosion is now expected to push back the timeline for Starship’s much-anticipated tenth test flight.

SpaceX’s ambitious Starship development program suffered a major setback when Starship 36 was destroyed in a dramatic explosion during a static fire test at the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, on June 18–19, 2025. This was the rocket’s fifth ground test, intended to support its upcoming 10th flight. The incident sparked massive fireballs, rattled nearby communities, and raised fresh questions about the timeline for Elon Musk’s lunar and Mars ambitions.

Around 11 p.m. CT on Wednesday night, the stage was being fueled with 1,200 tonnes of liquid oxygen and methane when a “spacecraft anomaly” led to a sudden, massive explosion

Footage shows the rocket standing upright, a small vapor plume emerging from its base, followed by a blinding white flash and an enormous fireball that consumed the prototype. Debris and smoke engulfed the pad within seconds

Shockwaves shook windows and rattled dishes in nearby communities, prompting emergency crews to rush in response

The area had been cleared before the test began, and SpaceX emphasized that all personnel were safe and accounted for

Local fire crews were on the scene immediately, containing the blaze that followed the blast .

Officials from Port Isabel thankfully reassured nearby residents that no further threat remained

The static fire was a pivotal pre-flight test paving the way for what would have been Starship’s 10th orbital flight

By igniting engines while secured to the ground, engineers verify systems like the propellant feed, engine performance, thermal loads, and structural integrity—all crucial before launch .

At roughly 400 feet tall, Starship is the most potent rocket ever built—with 33 Raptor engines on its Super Heavy booster and 6 on the upper stage—so any anomaly must be fully understood and corrected

This explosion is the 11th major mishap in the program’s deep testing history

But SpaceX follows a “test, fail, fix, repeat” methodology—each failure unlocks critical data to refine the design .

Flight Test 7 (Jan 16, 2025): exploded after structural failure from strong vibrations; triggered FAA-directed investigation and 11 corrective actions

Flight Test 8 (Mar 6, 2025): lost control during ascent, disintegrated over Caribbean; FAA closed its mishap probe on June 12 after all fixes were in place

SpaceX has launched an internal investigation; the FAA is expected to either oversee or review findings before allowing the next test

Investigators will scrutinize:

Propellant system behavior
Engine ignition sequence
Structural faults or material failures
Vibration and resonance effects, similar to earlier flights

The outcome may require:

Design tweaks to engine components
Reinforcement of feed lines or tanks
Software updates in flight control systems

Starship is central to NASA’s Artemis program, slated to land astronauts on the Moon in 2027. Delays ripple beyond SpaceX

Musk’s overarching goal: rapidly reusable spacecraft for cargo and crew on missions to Mars and deeper space. Every blast is a step toward that futureAnalysts warn each anomaly risks shifting the timeline. However, SpaceX and NASA point to a robust culture of learning and adaptation that underpins the program’s progress.

SpaceX’s Starbase site in Boca Chica has a history of mishaps—fires, leaks, static test failures have occurred roughly 19 times between 2019–2024

Local residents and wildlife advocates have raised concerns about environmental degradation and noise pollution tied to Starship tests

Regulatory scrutiny has increased: space licenses and environmental reviews remain key, especially as SpaceX ramps up testing frequency

SpaceX Starship Prototype Explodes Mid-Test in Texas During 5th Launch Attempt