SpaceX Starship faced another test failure as the Starship 36 prototype exploded during a static fire test at the company’s Starbase launch facility in Texas. The incident occurred late Wednesday night around 11:00pm local time. Officials confirmed the event as a “catastrophic failure.”
The explosion captured on video, showing the rocket mounted on the launch arm moments before a sudden flash and fire engulfed the vehicle. The test did not involve a launch; it was a routine static fire test where engines are ignited while the rocket remains grounded.
SpaceX confirmed that all staff remained safe and that the test zone was secured. A “major anomaly” was reported, but no additional technical details were provided. The company also reassured that there is no threat to surrounding communities and requested residents to avoid the site during ongoing cleanup and investigation procedures.
This incident marks another setback in the SpaceX Starship development program, following a previous failure in May when a prototype was lost over the Indian Ocean. The company continues to follow its “fail fast, learn fast” development model to improve the performance and reliability of its systems.
Starship, standing at 403 feet, is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built. Designed for full reusability, the rocket is capable of carrying up to 150 metric tonnes and is central to Elon Musk’s long-term vision of Mars colonization.
SpaceX has not confirmed if the explosion will impact future test timelines. The Starship program remains key to upcoming missions including deep space exploration and heavy payload satellite deployments.
