SpaceX Starship explodes during engine test, Musk shares preliminary investigation results

[DragonSlayer101]

Facepalm: SpaceX was preparing its Starship rocket for a 10th flight test – initially scheduled for June 29 – when it exploded during a static fire at the Starbase launch site in Texas shortly after 11 pm MT on Wednesday. The launch timeline is now unclear following the incident.

A video shared by NASA Spaceflight shows a powerful explosion lighting up the Texas night sky during what was supposed to be a routine engine test. Cameron County officials confirmed the incident and said no one was injured. Local law enforcement has launched a formal investigation to determine the cause.

ANOMALY! Just before Ship 36 was set to Static Fire, it blew up at SpaceX Masseys!

Live on X and YT:https://t.co/GPjZIX1Zyd pic.twitter.com/CfZhDeSGae

– NSF - NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) June 19, 2025

In a post on X, SpaceX said it was preparing the rocket for its tenth test flight when it experienced "a major anomaly" while fixed to the launch arm. The company didn't disclose the nature of the issue but confirmed that all personnel at the base were safe and accounted for.

SpaceX added that there's no immediate threat to nearby residents but advised people to avoid Starbase while cleanup operations are underway. Officials are closely monitoring air quality and safety in the surrounding area to ensure no hazards arise. Cleanup crews are working to secure the site and assess any environmental impact caused by 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

In the last few hours, Elon Musk weighed in on the incident with a series of posts on X. He initially dismissed the explosion as "just a scratch" but later explained that preliminary investigations showed "a nitrogen COPV in the payload bay failed below its proof pressure," causing the catastrophic failure.

Preliminary data suggests that a nitrogen COPV in the payload bay failed below its proof pressure.

If further investigation confirms that this is what happened, it is the first time ever for this design.

– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 19, 2025

Starship has previously caught fire during routine testing. Last month, it exploded during its ninth test flight, following similar failures in January and March. These repeated setbacks highlight the ongoing challenges SpaceX faces in perfecting the rocket's design. Since April 2023, Starship has launched nine times – four successes and five failures.

SpaceX is developing Starship as a multi-purpose rocket system to transport people and equipment to the Moon and support human colonization of Mars. Last month, Elon Musk said the company will launch its largest Starship later this year and confirmed his goal to land on Mars by 2026 despite recent explosive setbacks.

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SpaceX Starship explodes during engine test, Musk shares preliminary investigation results

 

[MSIGamer]

I love how SpaceX is so very deliberate and skilled at everything they do. They really take no chances and respect the environment. Really inspiring stuff. I have total faith in the future of humanity with people like these in positions of power.
/sarcasm.

 

[Alfonso Maruccia]

Right. They have a concept of a plan.

 

[RudyBob]

"Local law enforcement has launched a formal investigation to determine the cause." What can local law enforcement tell us? This is funny

 

[RudyBob]

I love how SpaceX is so very deliberate and skilled at everything they do. They really take no chances and respect the environment. Really inspiring stuff. I have total faith in the future of humanity with people like these in positions of power.
/sarcasm.

These folk are as highly skilled as any and more than most. Your post is meaningless and you know why.

 

[Kashim]

"Local law enforcement has launched a formal investigation to determine the cause." What can local law enforcement tell us? This is funny

Nothing a rabid Musk/Trump supporter would want to hear, I'm sure. Local law enforcement should only be investigating anything when liberals screw up and cause damage, everybody knows that. *roll eyes*

 

[RudyBob]

Right. They have a concept of a plan.

You might turn in your posting privilege's after this. Don't let hate run your life

 

[sreams]

I love how SpaceX is so very deliberate and skilled at everything they do. They really take no chances and respect the environment. Really inspiring stuff. I have total faith in the future of humanity with people like these in positions of power.
/sarcasm.

Their process has resulted in Falcon 9. It had more failures up front than Starship has, and the result is the most reliable rocket system in use, and the only orbital rocket system that re-uses it's booster. Meaning... reduced environmental impact.

 

[SRB]

At present, there are only two proven ways to develop a rocket. 1. Decide to do it. Next, gather together engineers and various companies to put together a plan. Submit said plan for bidding from various companies. Begin assembly and testing of every single component so that is can take in excess of 10 times the stress past any maximum you can dream up. Assemble said components into various assemblies and sub assemblies and stress test some more. Put the whole thing together, test some more, and then finally perform the first test launch. Monitor launch, make changes if needed, and the launch for real.

2. Get a bunch of engineers together, draw up a plan for a rocket and an engine. put both together as see what happens. When nothing blows up, put the entire rocket together. Run a few static tests. Launch the rocket and see what happens. If it blows up, pick up the pieces, make a few corrections and try again.
If rocket works, Done. Monitor data to make any improvements as you go.

#1 can take 20 years or more and has as much of a chance of getting cancelled ans launched.

#2 is SpaceX, and while it may seem a bit haphazard, so far, it's always ended up with success, takes a fraction of the time, and probably, contrary how it looks, winds up cheaper than the long way.

Neither one is right or wrong, just different.

 

[DrSuess]

Premature ignition, I think there is a pill for that.

 

[captaincranky]

These folk are as highly skilled as any and more than most. Your post is meaningless and you know why.

Highly skilled indeed. 10 out of 10 tries have been failures. (I only counted 6, but then my short term memory isn't what it used to be.

The only thing lacking in these tests, or so it would seem, is Elon Musk present to bullsh!t it off the pad...

 

[captaincranky]

Premature ignition, I think there is a pill for that.

IIRC, one is blue, and one is yellow. I wonder if they've considered those as the fuel source?

But then again, the rocket, in a lust induced frenzy, might try to mate with the nearest sinkhole.

Starship, being fueled with methane, on this occasion, seems to have been loaded with quite a few too many cow farts.

 

[daffy duck]

You might turn in your posting privilege's after this. Don't let hate run your life

Pot meet kettle. Rudy waving Chump's banner daily.

 

[wiyosaya]

Right. They have a concept of a plan.

More like a WAG, IMO. They have royalty free access to all NASA's IP, but they probably think they can do it better than NASA did.

 

[wiyosaya]

Highly skilled indeed. 10 out of 10 tries have been failures. (I only counted 6, but then my short term memory isn't what it used to be.

The only thing lacking in these tests, or so it would seem, is Elon Musk present to bullsh!t it off the pad...

The cause of failure was probably that it was overloaded with fElon's bullth!t.

 

[wiyosaya]

These folk are as highly skilled as any and more than most. Your post is meaningless and you know why.

Right. That's why the latest test (in which it was not getting off the pad because it was a static test) experienced yet another stellar failure.

 

[wiyosaya]

Nothing a rabid Musk/Trump supporter would want to hear,

And much less understand since, assuming correctness, it would be steeped in science.

I'm sure. Local law enforcement should only be investigating anything when liberals screw up and cause damage, everybody knows that. *roll eyes*

Even if said in sarcasm, I'm sure local law enforcement is investigating because fElon thinks that liberals are out to get him. Either that, or the MAGATs are PO'd fElon left the alter of Trump.