On June 18, 2025, SpaceX's Starship upper stage, Ship 36, exploded during a static-fire test at the Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas. The explosion caused a significant fireball and visible damage, though all personnel were safe.
The incident occurred during preparations for Starship's tenth flight test, leading to a program pause. SpaceX is working with authorities to assess the damage, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the cause.
Ship 36 had undergone previous tests, including a cryogenic test and a single-engine static fire. It was equipped with six Raptor engines and was preparing for a full static-fire test. This setback follows previous challenges faced by the Starship program in 2025.
Despite these challenges, SpaceX remains committed to the Starship program, which is crucial for its vision of human missions to Mars. The company aims for up to 25 annual launches from Texas, approved by the FAA in May 2025.
The explosion highlights the complexities of developing fully reusable spacecraft for interplanetary travel. SpaceX is expected to provide updates on the program's status and any schedule adjustments as investigations continue.