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A major explosion at SpaceX’s Texas site during a Starship engine test damaged Ship 36 and halted launch preparations. No injuries were reported, but the next test flight now faces indefinite delay.
A powerful explosion rocked Elon Musk’s SpaceX testing site in Massey, Texas, on Thursday, forcing the company to suspend preparations for its next Starship rocket launch.
The blast occurred just before a planned 'static fire' test of Ship 36, a critical step in the rocket's pre-flight checks.
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Explosion during engine test
The static fire test involves igniting the rocket’s engines while the vehicle is firmly anchored to the ground. It is a crucial procedure to ensure systems are functioning before an actual launch. However, eyewitnesses at the scene reported a sudden, fiery blast that scattered debris across the Starbase facility.
No injuries have been reported, but the explosion caused significant damage to the Starship prototype, halting launch operations indefinitely.
Launch plans disrupted
SpaceX had been aiming for a major Starship flight on June 29, which would have marked the tenth test of what is considered the world’s largest and most powerful rocket system. That launch now faces indefinite postponement. In a statement, SpaceX said:
The company also confirmed it is working with local authorities to manage the site and investigate the blast.
String of recent failures in 2025
This explosion adds to a growing list of high-profile setbacks for the Starship program this year. Two earlier test flights in 2025 ended in mid-air explosions, one vehicle broke apart, and another disintegrated after losing control.
Each failure has triggered Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigations, airspace restrictions, and intensive safety reviews.
Starship's future and Elon Musk's Mars dream
Starship is central to Elon Musk’s long-term vision of colonising Mars and enabling frequent lunar missions. The fully reusable rocket system is designed to carry both humans and heavy cargo far beyond Earth.
Despite repeated test failures, SpaceX has maintained an aggressive development schedule, arguing that each mishap brings critical lessons for future success.
Next steps unclear
The exact cause of the explosion is not yet known. SpaceX is working with federal regulators to investigate the incident and will implement necessary upgrades before resuming tests.
The company has not announced a revised launch date yet, and engineers are currently assessing the extent of the damage to Ship 36 and the test site infrastructure.
While SpaceX remains optimistic about Starship’s future, this latest setback highlights the risks of building next-generation spaceflight systems. For now, the ambitious journey to the Moon and Mars is on hold once again.
