SpaceX Starship explodes during Texas test as safety protocols prevent injuries

SpaceX's Starship 36 exploded during a routine ground test in Texas; no injuries reported as safety protocols worked.

A SpaceX Starship rocket experienced a catastrophic failure during a routine ground test late Wednesday at the company’s Starbase facility in Texas, according to local authorities and SpaceX. Starship 36 exploded shortly after 11:00 p.m. local time (0400 GMT Thursday), but no injuries were reported.

In a Facebook post, Cameron County officials confirmed the incident, while SpaceX stated the rocket was preparing for its tenth flight test when it encountered a “major anomaly” during the procedure. The company added that all safety protocols were followed and no personnel were harmed.

“A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation,” SpaceX posted on social media. “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.”

Located on the southern Texas coast near the Mexico border, Starbase serves as the headquarters for Elon Musk’s space program. The Starship rocket, standing 403 feet (123 meters) tall, is the largest and most powerful ever built and is central to Musk’s vision of enabling human missions to Mars.

The incident marks another setback for the Starship program. On May 27, a prototype exploded over the Indian Ocean after its Super Heavy booster failed to execute a planned splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. Previous launches also ended in failure, with upper-stage disintegration reported over the Caribbean.

Despite these challenges, SpaceX continues its push to develop reusable heavy-lift rockets capable of supporting deep-space missions and revolutionizing space exploration.