WATCH: SpaceX’s Starship rocket explodes into massive fireball during test
WESH TWO NEWS STARTS RIGHT NOW, AND IT’S VIDEO THAT HAS EVERYONE REALLY TALKING AT THIS HOUR. TAKE A LOOK. THE MOMENT A SPACEX STARSHIP ROCKET EXPLODED, SHOOTING A FIREBALL INTO THE NIGHT SKY AT ITS STARBASE FACILITY IN SOUTH TEXAS, YOU CAN SEE WHY IT’S GOING VIRAL. THIS BLAST WAS CAPTURED BY CAMERAS NEAR AND FAR LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT, AND SHOW THE MAGNITUDE OF THE INCIDENT. AS NBC’S TOM COSTELLO EXPLAINS, THE ROCKET EXPLODED DURING A STATIC FIRE TEST AHEAD OF AN UPCOMING LAUNCH. WHOA! IN THE SKIES OVER SOUTH TEXAS OVERNIGHT, A MASSIVE FIREBALL AFTER A SPACEX ROCKET EXPLODED DURING A STATIC ROCKET TEST. A GROUND TEST FOR AN UPCOMING LAUNCH. 36 JUST BLEW UP. SHIP 36 JUST BLEW UP. SPACEX, LED BY ELON MUSK, SAID THE STARSHIP ROCKET EXPERIENCED A MAJOR ANOMALY WHILE PREPARING FOR ITS 10TH FLIGHT TEST, ADDING THAT ALL PERSONNEL ARE SAFE AND THERE ARE NO HAZARDS TO RESIDENTS IN SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. THE EXPLOSION RATTLED NEARBY RESIDENTS, WHO POSTED VIDEOS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ONE TELLING MY SAN ANTONIO NEWS, QUOTE, OUR WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD FELT IT. IT SHOOK ALL OF OUR HOUSES. STARSHIP IS CRITICAL TO MUSK’S MISSION TO SEND HUMANS TO THE MOON, AND ONE DAY, MARS, MAKING LIFE MULTI-PLANETARY OR EXTENDING LIFE TO MARS. THE IDEA THERE IS TO. ENSURE THE LONG TERM SURVIVAL OF OF LIFE AND CONSCIOUSNESS. BUT STARSHIP HAS FACED A NUMBER OF SETBACKS THIS YEAR, INCLUDING THREE EXPLOSIONS LAST MONTH DURING STARSHIP’S NINTH UNCREWED TEST FLIGHT. THE VESSEL BROKE APART OVER THE INDIAN OCEAN AFTER LOSING CONTROL UPON REENTRY INTO EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE. WHAT IS THAT, LIKE A METEOR SHOWER? AND IN JANUARY AND MARCH, JUST MINUTES INTO TEST FLIGHTS SEVEN AND EIGHT, ANOTHER DISASTER. THERE IT IS. BOOM! OH MY GOD, THE ROCKET SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, BREAKING INTO PIECES AND RAINING DEBRIS ACROSS THE SKY OVER THE CARIBBEAN OCEAN, DISRUPTING COMMERCIAL AIR TRAVEL FOR NEARLY AN HOUR. BUT MUSK VIEWS THE INCIDENTS WITH OPTIMISM. WITH EACH LAUNCH, ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY DAYS OF STARSHIP. EACH LAUNCH IS ABOUT LEARNING MORE AND MORE ABOUT WHAT’S NEEDED TO MAKE LIFE MULTI-PLANETARY AND TO IMPROVE STARSHIP TO THE POINT WHERE IT CAN BE TAKING ULTIMATELY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, IF NOT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TO MARS. TOM COSTELLO, NBC NEWS. AND THIS OVERNIGHT EXPLOSION MAY JOG YOUR MEMORY OF A ROCKET EXPLOSION THAT HAPPENED AT CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2016, A FALCON NINE EXPLODED ON THE PAD WHILE IT WAS BEING FILLED WITH PROPELLANT. NASA SAID SPACEX WAS CONDUCTING A TEST FIRING OF ITS UNMANNED ROCKET WHEN THE BLAST OCCURRED. AT THE TIME, SPACEX SAID THE LAUNCHPAD WAS N
Updated: 12:22 PM EDT Jun 19, 2025
The Starship rocket faced another explosion following a “major anomaly” at SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas. The world’s largest rocket was on a test stand when it erupted into a fireball as SpaceX was preparing for its 10th test flight of Starship, which was scheduled for no earlier than 10 days from now. No injuries were reported during the explosion. SpaceX said in a statement: “Our Starbase team is actively working to safe the test site and the immediate surrounding area in conjunction with local officials. 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 incident did not occur during a launch. Previous flights of Starship have faced challenges, including spiraling out of control and exploding into fiery pieces over the Atlantic. The cause of the latest incident has not been disclosed.
The Starship rocket faced another explosion following a “major anomaly” at SpaceX’s Starbase in Texas.
The world’s largest rocket was on a test stand when it erupted into a fireball as SpaceX was preparing for its 10th test flight of Starship, which was scheduled for no earlier than 10 days from now.
No injuries were reported during the explosion.
SpaceX said in a statement:
“Our Starbase team is actively working to safe the test site and the immediate surrounding area in conjunction with local officials. 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.”
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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
The incident did not occur during a launch.
Previous flights of Starship have faced challenges, including spiraling out of control and exploding into fiery pieces over the Atlantic.
The cause of the latest incident has not been disclosed.
