Late Wednesday night, SpaceX experienced an unexpected explosion during a ground-based engine test of its next-generation Starship spacecraft. The incident occurred around 11 p.m. Central Time at the company’s Starbase facility in South Texas.
The test was a “static fire,” where engines are ignited while the rocket remains anchored to the ground. These tests are routine and critical for evaluating engine performance ahead of actual launches. However, this time, an explosion erupted during preparations, captured by livestream cameras monitoring the test pad.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX confirmed that no one was hurt. “A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation, and all personnel are safe and accounted for,” the company said. They also noted that their Starbase team is now focused on securing the site: “We are working with local officials to ensure the area is safe. There is no risk to residents in nearby communities, but we ask that the public avoid approaching the area while safing operations continue.”
The full extent of the damage to the test site remains unclear. Starbase is a key location for SpaceX’s development of Starship, the vehicle that aims to carry astronauts to the Moon and eventually to Mars. This test was part of a series leading up to a future launch attempt.
SpaceX has faced and overcome setbacks before—testing new technologies often involves trial and error. While this explosion marks a bump in the road, it’s not unusual in the high-stakes world of rocket development. More information is expected as SpaceX assesses the situation and updates its testing schedule.
