ISLAMABAD: A SpaceX Starship rocket suffered a catastrophic explosion during a routine test late Wednesday night at the Starbase launch facility in Texas, dealing another blow to Elon Musk’s ambitious interplanetary mission.
The incident occurred around 11:00 pm local time, with Cameron County authorities confirming the explosion of Starship 36 during a static fire test.
Footage shared by local officials showed a sudden flash followed by a massive fiery blast while the megarocket was still secured to the launch arm.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and all on-site personnel were safely evacuated prior to the incident.
SpaceX confirmed the event on social media, noting that “a major anomaly” occurred during testing, but did not disclose specific details.
What Went Wrong
The explosion happened during a static fire test, a common pre-launch procedure where engines are fired while the rocket remains grounded.
Starship’s Super Heavy booster was undergoing this test when it experienced what SpaceX termed a “catastrophic failure.”
Authorities urged the public to stay clear of the site while safing operations are conducted.
The rocket, standing 403 feet tall, is currently the most powerful launch vehicle ever constructed.
It plays a pivotal role in Musk’s long-term vision of sending humans to Mars and transforming space travel with full reusability.
Ongoing Challenges for Starship
This latest explosion marks another setback for Starship following a string of high-profile failures.
Just last month, a prototype exploded over the Indian Ocean, and earlier tests also ended in destruction of upper stages during re-entry.
Despite these failures, SpaceX maintains confidence in its rapid development strategy — “fail fast, learn fast” — which has fueled its rise in the commercial space sector.
NASA has already partnered with SpaceX for future missions, including using Starship for the Artemis program aimed at returning humans to the Moon.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently approved an increase in Starship launches from five to 25 annually, supporting accelerated development despite environmental concerns raised by conservation groups.
While the path to deep space remains turbulent, SpaceX is undeterred in its pursuit of redefining space exploration and transport.
