SpaceX Starship Ship 36 Explodes Before Flight Test
Explosion at SpaceX’s Texas testing site delays Ship 36’s static fire test ahead of 10th Starship launch attempt.
- Publish date: Thursday، 19 June 2025
SpaceX was set to perform a static fire test of Ship 36 before its planned 10th flight test for its Starship; however, a massive explosion at the Massey’s Testing Center site disrupted SpaceX's plans on Wednesday, June 18.
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“A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for,” SpaceX said in a statement.
According to SpaceX, there were no hazards to residents in the area, which is located in Starbase, Texas.
The fire continued for two hours after the initial explosion, according to live camera feeds from NASA Spaceflight and LabPadre.
The explosion occurred before the start of the static fire and thirty minutes after the propellant load sequence started.
The cause of the explosion and the extent of the possible damage are unknown; however, it follows explosions during the seventh, eighth, and ninth Starship flight tests earlier this year.
The Brownsville Fire Department crews responded to the incident, according to KRGV news. Fox News reported that the authorities ensured that there were no injuries during the incident.
If the explosion had not occurred, the flight test would have continued using SpaceX’s “V2” Starship design. SpaceX is also preparing a V3 design, which is targeting a rate of launching once a week in about 12 months.