A SpaceX Starship prototype exploded on Wednesday during ground testing, according to local authorities, setting off a huge fireball seen in wild, livestreamed footage.
Ship 36, which was expected to be used for Starship’s upcoming test flight, was undergoing a routine engine static fire test when it suddenly blew up at the Starbase test flight site in Texas just before midnight.
It means the tenth Starship test flight will almost certainly be delayed.
It was the second static fire test of the prototype. The test is supposed to simulate launch conditions and ensure the engine ignites and performs as expected.
SpaceX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
ANOMALY! Just before Ship 36 was set to Static Fire, it blew up at SpaceX Masseys!Live on X and YT:https://t.co/GPjZIX1Zyd pic.twitter.com/CfZhDeSGae
— NSF – NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) June 19, 2025
The constable’s office of Cameron County Precinct 1 posted on Facebook that Ship 36 “suffered a catastrophic failure and exploded” just after 11 p.m.
“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,” it said.
BREAKING: SPACEX STARSHIP 36 EXPLOSION:
At approximately 11:01:54 PM, during a routine static fire test at Starbase, Texas, SpaceX’s Starship 36 suffered a catastrophic failure and exploded.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.
Posted by Cameron County Constable Precinct 1 on Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Local news site ValleyCentral, a CBS and NBC affiliate, reported that people in Cameron County—which is home to SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility—were startled by a loud rumble that rattled items in their homes.
The Cameron County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to ValleyCentral that the loud rumble was an explosion from one of SpaceX’s static fire tests. The office said it was not commenting on the incident when reached by the Daily Beast.
It follows a string of failures this year for Elon Musk’s company while the billionaire has been tied up in a controversial role as an adviser to Donald Trump. He left his special government role last month after citing a need to focus on his businesses, and went on to have an extremely high-profile breakup with the president.
SpaceX Starship’s ninth test flight, which took place days before he wrapped up his time at the Department of Government Efficiency, also ended in failure, as did tests seven and eight in January and March.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
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