SpaceX Starship blows up during test, another setback for Elon Musk’s mission to Mars

SpaceX Starship Explodes During Engine Test Ahead of 10th Flight (Image: SpaceX)

A loud blast echoed over South Texas skies this week. What was meant to be a routine engine check turned into a dramatic setback for SpaceX’s flagship rocket project.

Major Anomaly Strikes at Starbase Facility

SpaceX confirmed that its latest Starship prototype exploded late on 19 June during a pre-test phase. The vehicle suffered a “major anomaly” while undergoing trials at the company’s Starbase site near Boca Chica. The upper-stage Starship was preparing for its 10th flight test when the failure occurred.

All personnel were reported safe, and safety measures around the site were active. The incident caused damage to the test stand and surrounding area, but there were no hazards for nearby communities. SpaceX urged the public to avoid approaching the site while they continue safety operations in coordination with local officials.

The company noted that toxicity tests of materials used in Starship confirmed no environmental or biological risk. SpaceX said it is working closely with local, state, and federal agencies to manage any impact from the explosion.

On Wednesday, June 18 at approximately 11 p.m. CT, the Starship preparing for the tenth flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase. A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted…

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 19, 2025

Starship Development Faces New Delay

The Starship, standing 403 feet tall, is designed to be fully reusable. The vehicle comprises a first-stage booster called Super Heavy and an upper-stage spacecraft known simply as Starship. As SpaceX’s successor to the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, it is key to future deep-space missions, including eventual Mars expeditions.

Just last month, another Starship launch faced failure. Several engines cut out during ascent, leading to the spacecraft’s disintegration over the Atlantic Ocean. Videos of flaming debris surfaced from the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. That incident even caused flight disruptions across Florida, according to the FAA.

Axiom-4 Launch Also Delayed Again

The recent explosion adds to existing delays faced by SpaceX. The launch of the Axiom-4 mission, set to carry Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the ISS, has now been postponed again. Originally scheduled for 19 June, it was first moved to 22 June due to technical issues with the Falcon 9. NASA has now confirmed the launch won’t take place on 22 June either, and a new date is being reviewed.

NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX are continuing assessments of the ISS’s readiness after recent repair work on the Zvezda service module. Once cleared, the four-member Axiom-4 crew, currently quarantined in Florida, will be ready for departure.

Despite recent setbacks, SpaceX remains central to NASA’s human spaceflight plans, using the Dragon spacecraft for crewed missions to the International Space Station.