SpaceX fails again after Starship megarocket explodes in Texas

The space projects of multi-billionaire Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, suffered a new setback on the night of Wednesday, June 18 to Thursday, June 19, after his Starship megarocket exploded on its launch pad during a test firing at Starbase, Texas, without causing any injuries.

"On Wednesday at 11:01 p.m. local time , during a routine static test at Starbase, Texas, SpaceX's Starship 36 suffered a catastrophic failure and exploded," Cameron County, Texas, officials said on their Facebook page. "Fortunately, no injuries have been reported at this time ," they said. "Emergency protocols were quickly implemented, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident."

A video circulating on social media shows the rocket – as tall as a 40-story building and the most powerful ever designed – on its launch pad, then a gigantic fireball engulfing it.

"Starship, which was preparing for the tenth flight test, experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase," SpaceX confirmed in a message on X, specifying that "a safety zone around the site was maintained throughout the operation" and that "all personnel are safe and sound." "Our Starbase team is actively working to secure the test site and its immediate surroundings in collaboration with local authorities," the company added, which assures that "there is no danger to residents."

Static firing tests are part of the pre-launch procedures: a rocket engine or set of engines is ignited while the vehicle remains attached to the launch pad. The rocket was not scheduled to launch Wednesday evening when the explosion occurred.

The accident on Wednesday night further tarnishes SpaceX's image, even though these mishaps are part of the company's stated strategy: to launch multiple prototypes in order to gradually correct problems encountered during flight.

The previous accident occurred less than a month ago. On May 27, the Starship rocket successfully reached space, but its vessel, the Super Heavy booster, exploded before returning to Earth. In two previous tests in January and March, the upper stage exploded early in the flight, causing a shower of incandescent debris over the Caribbean and minimal damage.

The wealthy entrepreneur is counting on this mega-rocket to carry out his crazy project of conquering Mars. In recent years, he has established himself as a key player in the space sector, and has been entrusted with several crucial government missions. However, this partnership has become more uncertain following his break with President Donald Trump.