On Wednesday night, SpaceX’s Starship rocket exploded into a substantial fireball while undergoing preparations for a flight test at its Starbase testing facility in Texas. This incident represents the latest occurrence in a succession of explosions that have afflicted the testing procedures of the rocket company’s most potent launch vehicle. The explosion occurred at approximately 11 p.m. CDT and was broadcast via SpaceX’s livestream while the Starship rocket was being readied for flight testing.
In an official statement, the company expressed that it was preparing the Starship for its tenth flight test when it “experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand.” SpaceX confirmed that the safety clearance area surrounding the rocket test site was “maintained throughout the operation, and all personnel are safe and accounted for.”
The company stated that there are “no hazards to residents in surrounding communities” but urged locals to “not attempt to approach the area while safing operations continue.”
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 Cameron County Constable Precinct 1 office issued a statement on Facebook indicating that the explosion occurred during a “routine static fire test” and that an investigation is “now underway to find the cause of the incident.”
A spokesperson for the Brownsville Fire Department informed ABC affiliate KRGV-TV that firefighters have been dispatched to the site of the explosion; however, the full extent of the incident remains unknown to them.
SpaceX Starship’s All Test Flights Result in Failure
SpaceX was preparing the Starship rocket for its 10th test flight on Wednesday when it experienced an explosion. The mega rocket’s most recent three test flights, all of which occurred in 2025, also concluded in failures. The seventh test flight took place in January, during which SpaceX successfully recovered its Super Heavy booster but lost communication with the Starship spacecraft.
The company announced at that time that the Starship “experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly during its ascent burn.” SpaceX later stated that the most likely cause of the failure was “vibrations” that were “several times stronger in flight than had been seen during testing.”
The company conducted another test flight in March; however, this too concluded in failure as the Starship vehicle encountered another “rapid unscheduled disassembly” during its ascent burn.
The explosion generated a substantial debris field, which prompted the FAA to issue a ground-stop order at several airports in Florida. The ninth test launch similarly failed as SpaceX lost contact with the spacecraft prior to its descent into the Indian Ocean.
