A SpaceX Starship rocket being prepared for a flight test exploded into a massive fireball, captured vividly on a live stream. The dramatic incident occurred late Wednesday night, June 18, 2025, just after 11 p.m. local time, at the company’s Starbase facility near Boca Chica Beach, Texas.
Identified as Starship Ship 36, the reusable super heavy-lift launch vehicle was positioned on a test stand as part of routine preparations for what was intended to be its tenth flight test. Live footage showed a fireball igniting near the top of the rocket before the entire scene was engulfed in light. The powerful blast scattered debris across the test site, leaving the Starship and its stand no longer in their upright positions. Flames from the resulting fire reportedly burned for approximately two hours.
SpaceX confirmed the incident via a statement on X (formerly Twitter), describing it as a “major anomaly.” The company stated that a safety zone had been established prior to the test and reported that all staff were accounted for with no injuries sustained. They also affirmed that nearby residents were not exposed to hazards and urged the public to avoid approaching the test site.
However, the impact was felt beyond the facility’s boundaries. Residents in communities as far as 22 miles away in Brownsville reported their homes shaking from the blast. Many neighbors went outside to investigate, with one resident describing feeling the shockwave throughout their neighborhood. Another watching from a nearby beach reported hearing a “huge boom” as the explosion occurred.
This explosion represents the latest setback in SpaceX’s ambitious Starship testing program. Designed for full and rapid reusability, the Starship system is central to SpaceX’s long-term goals of enabling cost-effective travel to the Moon and eventually Mars. The testing process for such groundbreaking technology is inherently challenging and often involves risks, leading to what the company sometimes refers to as “rapid unscheduled disassembly.” While previous tests have seen successes, such as the Super Heavy boosters being successfully caught by the “chopsticks” or “Mechazilla” mechanical arms upon return to the launch pad, others have resulted in similar outcomes. Prior test flights have encountered issues ranging from propellant leaks and explosions minutes into ascent to spacecraft burning up upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere.
The Starbase team is reportedly working with local officials to secure the test site and surrounding area following the incident. As of the time of reporting, SpaceX founder Elon Musk had not made a public comment regarding the explosion. The company emphasizes that learning from such anomalies is crucial to improving the reliability and performance of the Starship system as they continue their development toward future spaceflight missions.
