On June 18, 2025, SpaceX’s Starship prototype “Ship 36” exploded in a massive fireball during a static fire test at the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.
The test, which was intended to briefly ignite the rocket’s engines while the spacecraft remained secured to the launch pad, ended in a sudden and violent blast. Bright flames and thick black smoke were seen engulfing the rocket seconds after ignition. The explosion was caught on camera and quickly went viral on social media platforms.
Thankfully, no injuries were reported. SpaceX confirmed that all personnel were safe and accounted for. However, local residents reported feeling shockwaves and hearing the loud blast from miles away.
The cause of the explosion remains unknown, but SpaceX described the event as a “rapid unscheduled disassembly”—a term often used humorously by the company to describe test failures.
This was the 10th planned test of the Starship program, which is critical to NASA’s Artemis lunar missions and Elon Musk’s vision of reaching Mars. Although recent flights have faced setbacks, including previous crashes and engine failures, SpaceX maintains that each test provides valuable data to improve the system.
The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and SpaceX have launched an investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause and ensure safety for future launches.
Despite the explosion, SpaceX has not slowed down. Elon Musk hinted on social media that the next test launch could happen as early as July 2025, depending on investigation results and system upgrades.
