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SpaceX Starship Prototype Explodes During Texas Static Fire Test

Investigators are probing the technical failure at Starbase to determine whether repairs will delay Starship’s next flight.

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Explosion occurred before a scheduled static-fire test of Ship 36 at Starship's testing site at Massey, Texas. | Image: X
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Overview

  • On June 18 at about 11 p.m. CT, Starship 36 suffered a major anomaly and exploded while undergoing a static fire test at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas.
  • The blast inflicted heavy damage to the test stand and rattled nearby homes but left no personnel injured, SpaceX and local officials confirmed.
  • SpaceX has established a safety perimeter and is working with Cameron County authorities to secure and assess the affected area.
  • Launch preparations for the tenth test flight, originally slated for June 29, are on hold as engineers review safety protocols and site repairs.
  • Starship development is critical for NASA’s Artemis lunar landings and underpins Elon Musk’s long-term goal of sending crewed missions to Mars.