Texas, USA – June 19, 2025 — A routine engine test at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas, took a dramatic turn late Wednesday night when a prototype of the company’s next-generation Starship rocket exploded in a massive fireball, shaking nearby communities.
The explosion occurred during a static fire test of Starship Ship 36, which was being prepared for its tenth flight test. According to officials and SpaceX, the incident involved a “major anomaly” that triggered the destructive blast at approximately 11:00 p.m. local time.
Footage from the scene showed a towering inferno lighting up the night sky, while residents as far as several miles away reported feeling their homes shake. The intensity of the explosion caused a fire that burned for nearly two hours before it was brought under control.
Despite the severity of the incident, no injuries have been reported, and SpaceX confirmed that all personnel were safe. A safety perimeter had been established in advance of the test, limiting the risk to staff and civilians.
Authorities, along with SpaceX engineers, are now investigating the root cause of the explosion. The event marks another setback for the ambitious Starship program, which has seen multiple test flights end in failure this year.
Starship, designed as a fully reusable rocket system, is central to SpaceX’s long-term goals of enabling human missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. The recent test was intended to validate engine ignition systems in preparation for a full launch scheduled later this month. That launch is now expected to be delayed.
Despite repeated technical challenges, SpaceX maintains its commitment to an iterative approach—testing, learning, and evolving its design with each attempt.
