SpaceX’s Starship Launch Vehicle Explodes on Test Stand
One of SpaceX’s Starship launch vehicles exploded on a test stand in Texas late on Wednesday night, as the company prepared for the tenth test flight of the heavy-lift rocket system.
According to a post on X, SpaceX stated that “all personnel are safe and accounted for” and reassured that there are “no hazards to residents in surrounding communities.” However, the company did not provide an explanation for the explosion.
The impact of this incident on SpaceX’s development of the Starship rocket system remains unclear. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had recently suggested that the tenth test flight could have taken place as soon as June 29.
Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, downplayed the explosion by referring to it as “Just a scratch” in a related post.
SpaceX has been actively working on the development of the 171-foot Starship and the massive 232-foot Super Heavy booster. The company had high hopes for the program in 2025, with the FAA even increasing its limit on Starship launches in Texas from 5 to 25.
However, Starship has faced several setbacks this year, with explosions occurring during test flights in January, March, and May. Despite making progress in the most recent flight in May, the rocket failed to deploy the dummy Starlink satellites onboard, a crucial step for SpaceX’s space-based internet service.
Musk remains optimistic about SpaceX’s plans to send a Starship to Mars in 2026, giving it a “50/50” chance according to a company update in May. Additionally, the company is working on a larger “Version 3” of Starship that could potentially fly as early as this year.
