SpaceX Starship Explodes During Test Flight

SpaceX Starship Booster Experiences Incident During Testing

An upgraded Starship rocket booster underwent initial testing at SpaceX’s South Texas facility on Thursday. Shortly after the rollout, an unexpected event occurred involving an internal explosion.

Details of the Incident

The incident was observed and documented by livestreamers monitoring the Starbase complex in the early hours of Friday, approximately 4:00 a.m. local time. Subsequent photographic evidence has provided a detailed view of the resulting damage.

This explosion differed from previous SpaceX rocket development incidents. Rather than a widespread fireball, the event compromised a substantial portion of the booster’s lower section, while the remainder remained structurally intact.

Notably, the booster was not yet equipped with its rocket engines when the explosion took place, as reported by Ars Technica.

SpaceX’s Response and Investigation

According to a statement posted on X, SpaceX was conducting “gas system pressure testing” at the time of the incident. The company confirmed that no personnel were injured, as the testing area had been appropriately cleared.

“The teams require time for a thorough investigation to determine the root cause,” SpaceX communicated on Friday.

Significance of the Booster – Starship V3

The affected booster represented the initial major component of Starship version three, designated “V3.” This iteration is designed to be larger, more powerful, and more dependable than its predecessors.

Starship V3 is also intended to facilitate in-orbit docking with other Starship vehicles – a critical capability for SpaceX’s lunar and Martian exploration plans. The final V2 design completed its flight in October.

Potential Impact on SpaceX’s Timeline

The extent to which this explosion will affect SpaceX’s future operations remains uncertain. However, any considerable delays in the testing schedule could jeopardize the company’s overall objectives.

SpaceX has been targeting a highly active 2026 for the Starship program. This includes demonstrating the ability to transfer fuel between a Starship and a dedicated “tanker” version while in orbit.

Successful demonstration of this capability is a prerequisite for NASA approval of crewed lunar missions, currently projected for 2028.

NASA’s Perspective and Competition

Sean Duffy, the acting NASA administrator, has voiced criticism regarding SpaceX’s progress on its lunar mission commitments. He has also indicated a potential willingness to consider Blue Origin as an alternative contractor.

Blue Origin’s Advancements

Blue Origin is accelerating its development of its own large-scale rocket. The company recently completed its second launch of the New Glenn rocket, successfully delivering its first commercial payload for NASA.

Furthermore, Blue Origin achieved a successful landing of a New Glenn rocket booster. On Thursday, the company unveiled an even more ambitious design for New Glenn, intended to directly compete with Starship.

This report has been updated to include additional information released by SpaceX.