Starbase, Texas (AP) —A SpaceX rocket being tested in Texas exploded Wednesday night, sending a dramatic fireball high into the sky.
Credit where it's due to Musk.
— tern (@1goodtern) June 19, 2025
He has made a radical new leap forward in SpaceX technology:
Now you don't have to wait until after launch for the devastating explosion.
đź‘€ pic.twitter.com/1OOHwB8kY1
Just a scratch
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 19, 2025
The company said the Starship “experienced a major anomaly” at about 11 p.m. while on the test stand preparing for the tenth flight test at Starbase, SpaceX’s launch site at the southern tip of Texas.
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
“A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for,” SpaceX said in a statement on the social platform X.
CEO Elon Musk ’s SpaceX said there were no hazards to nearby communities. It asked people not to try to approach the site.
The company said it is working with local officials to respond to the explosion.