SpaceX Starship rocket explodes in fiery anomaly during test at Texas facility VIDEO

A dramatic explosion rocked Elon Musk’s SpaceX testing facility in Texas late on June 18, when the Starship 36 rocket erupted into a massive fireball during a routine ground test.

The incident occurred around 11 p.m. local time at the Starbase launch site near Boca Chica, where the vehicle was undergoing a static fire test — a procedure in which the rocket's engines are briefly ignited while it remains anchored to the launch pad, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The test is designed to evaluate performance prior to a flight, but in this case, the rocket was not scheduled to launch.

Startling video footage captured the moment when the nose of the rocket suddenly burst open, triggering an intense flash that briefly engulfed the screen in white light. As the flash subsided, flames and thick black smoke could be seen billowing into the night sky.

Elon Musk isn’t giving up. What’s your excuse? Insane explosion of SpaceX Starship 36 during static test pic.twitter.com/gaFGtJZhyW

— SkunkWorks (@SkunkWorks0x) June 19, 2025

In an official statement, SpaceX confirmed that the vehicle experienced “a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase.” The company assured the public that all safety protocols were in place and that no injuries occurred.

“A safe, clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation, and all personnel are safe and accounted for,” SpaceX said, adding that the team is now working with local authorities to secure both the test stand and the surrounding area.

“There are no hazards to residents in surrounding communities, and we ask that individuals do not attempt to approach the area while safing operations continue,” the company emphasised.

Despite these reassurances, nearby residents described feeling the force of the explosion.

According to ValleyCentral, the blast rattled windows and caused dishes to shake in homes around the area.

Emergency services quickly responded. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene, and the City of Port Isabel issued a notice to residents acknowledging that SpaceX had “experienced a spacecraft anomaly” and that the situation was being closely monitored. Officials warned that “possible impacts may be felt or heard” and provided a link for residents to report any damage.

Wednesday night’s fiery failure comes just weeks after another setback involving a different Starship model. During a test over the Indian Ocean, the 403-foot rocket exploded mid-air after a problem occurred with its booster’s re-entry burn. That test had been part of an effort to deploy eight Starlink satellite simulators and experiment with thermal shielding by intentionally removing 100 heat tiles.

Although SpaceX acknowledged the loss of the booster in that earlier incident, the company said the outcome had been anticipated given the extreme testing conditions.

Starship is the most powerful rocket ever developed by SpaceX and is key to the company’s long-term goals, including future missions to the Moon and Mars.

By Tamilla Hasanova