In a dramatic turn of events on Wednesday evening at its Starbase facility in southern Texas, SpaceX’s Starship 36, poised for its anticipated 10th test flight, erupted into a massive fireball before it could even launch, according to Sky News
🔥 The Incident
Just after 11 pm local time, SpaceX initiated its standard launch procedures. As engines roared to life, the rocket abruptly exploded, consuming itself in a towering burst of flames that illuminated the night sky. SpaceX described the occurrence as a “major anomaly”, reassuring that all safety protocols—including a cleared exclusion zone—were properly in effect.
In their initial statement, SpaceX confirmed:
“A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for.”
They added that efforts were already underway to secure and stabilise the site in collaboration with local officials, affirming that no hazards were posed to nearby communities.
🚀 Context: Starship’s Tumultuous Test Record
Recent months have been fraught with setbacks for Starship:
- In January, a test flight ended in a mid-air breakup around eight minutes post-launch.
- In May, another test went awry due to suspected fuel leaks and an uncontrolled spin, culminating in the rocket’s destruction on re-entry.
- Despite the explosions, CEO Elon Musk has emphasised the value of these incidents, labelling them “big improvements” and as learning opportunities for refining the system.
📹 Watch: Raw Footage from the Test
Recent video clips—shared via Sky News and NASA SpaceFlight—capture the instant of explosion as flames engulf the vehicle. These harrowing visuals are now being scrutinised by engineers in Texas for clues on what triggered the anomaly.
💬 Voices from the Scene
While no direct quotes from SpaceX were released beyond the official statement, Sky News footage included reactions from onlookers and experts. The recurring theme: despite setbacks, SpaceX maintains its forward-leaning stance, viewing each failure as data to push development forward.
🛠 What’s Next for Starship?
SpaceX aims to analyse telemetry data from the event and apply lessons to its next iteration. The FAA is likely to initiate a formal mishap investigation, considering the rocket’s proximity to populated flight paths .
Despite consecutive failures, SpaceX continues to work towards next-generation space ambitions, including:
- Advanced tests to enhance Starship reliability.
- Future launches aimed at ensuring the system can fulfil missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
🧭 Final Take
The fiery end of Starship 36 marks yet another dramatic chapter in SpaceX’s unrelenting quest for spacecraft innovation. While the explosions may resemble setbacks, they are key milestones in a brutal yet bold iterative process—where each failure inches the company closer to achieving complete rocket reusability and deep‑space exploration capability. With Musk’s vision unwavering, SpaceX is already gearing up for its next test, fuelled by the data from this latest blaze.