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SpaceX’s Starship 36 Explodes in Ground Test at Starbase
SpaceX’s Starship 36 suffers catastrophic failure during ground test at Starbase, Texas. No injuries reported. Latest setback for Musk’s Mars ambitions.
ND
by News Desk
2025-06-19
SpaceX’s Starship 36 Explodes in Ground Test at Starbase

Texas, USA – A SpaceX Starship prototype suffered a catastrophic explosion during a ground test late Wednesday night at the company’s Starbase facility in Cameron County, Texas, according to local authorities and SpaceX.

The vehicle, known as Starship 36, was undergoing testing on a launch stand in preparation for its 10th flight test when the failure occurred around 11 PM local time (9 AM Pakistan time on Thursday).

“The Starship 36 suffered catastrophic failure and exploded,” read a statement posted on Facebook by Cameron County authorities. “All personnel are safe and accounted for.”

No Danger to Nearby Communities

SpaceX confirmed the incident and reassured the public, stating that no hazards were posed to nearby communities and that a safety perimeter had been maintained throughout the operation.

“A major anomaly occurred while Starship 36 was on a test stand,” the company wrote. “We ask individuals not to approach the site while safing operations continue.”

A Key Mars Mission Component

Standing at 123 meters, Starship is the largest and most powerful rocket ever built. It’s a crucial part of Elon Musk’s vision to colonize Mars, serving as both the upper and lower stages for future crewed deep space missions.

This incident marks another in a series of test failures:

·       On May 27, a Starship prototype exploded over the Indian Ocean after the Super Heavy booster failed to splash down as intended.

·       Earlier flight tests also ended with mid-air disintegration or unplanned explosions during return phases.

Despite the repeated setbacks, SpaceX has continued to refine and rebuild its Starship program, citing each anomaly as a data-rich learning opportunity.

What’s Next for SpaceX?

This latest incident underscores the high-risk, iterative approach SpaceX has embraced for rapid rocket development. Analysts suggest that although such failures may delay test timelines, they are part of the "fail fast, fix faster" philosophy that has driven many of SpaceX’s past breakthroughs.

As of now, SpaceX has not released an expected date for the next Starship flight test, and investigations into the root cause of the failure are underway.

Starbase Remains the Launch Hub

Starbase, located on the southern tip of Texas, near the US-Mexico border, has become the heart of SpaceX’s deep space ambitions. The site is central not only to Starship development but also to Musk’s broader plans for multi-planetary human life.
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SpaceX

ElonMusk

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