Elon Musk’s ambitious space project, SpaceX, faced another dramatic moment after its massive Starship rocket exploded during a static fire test. A video of the incident, which quickly spread on social media, shows a powerful blast bursting from the rocket’s base, covering the area in thick smoke and flames. The explosion happened while engineers were carrying out regular engine checks, with the rocket remaining on the ground.
This isn't the first major issue for the Starship program. In earlier test flights, the launch system faced similar challenges. Both the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft exploded during a previous uncrewed flight, marking the third failure in a row for the program.
BREAKING: SpaceX Starship explodes during static fire test pic.twitter.com/ChTSKp3KIO
— BNO News (@BNONews) June 19, 2025
The most recent test was the ninth attempt with the nearly 400-foot-tall rocket. Previous missions, including ones in January and March, ended in similar destruction. The rocket system, designed to carry people and cargo across Earth and to places like the Moon and Mars, plays a key role in Musk’s long-term goals for space travel.
According to a livestream shared by SpaceX, the first-stage Super Heavy booster exploded soon after takeoff. The second-stage Starship had a fuel leak mid-flight, lost control, and eventually broke apart during reentry.
Even with repeated crashes, SpaceX remains committed to testing and development. The company views every launch, even failed ones, as a chance to learn and improve the rocket system.
"Each flight is an opportunity to gather crucial data for improvements," SpaceX said.
For now, the company continues to refine its technology, aiming to make Starship flight-ready for future space missions.
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