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SpaceX Starship Explodes on Test Stand Ahead of 10th Flight

Recent mishaps coincide with the introduction of Starship Block 2, a more powerful configuration of the rocket.

Thursday, June 19, 2025 at 09:56 AM ET

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SpaceX’s Starship rocket has flown three times but suffered four anomalies in 2025. [Courtesy: SpaceX]

Key Takeaways:

SpaceX's Starship experienced a "major anomaly" and exploded during a 6-engine static fire test, further delaying its planned tenth test flight.
This incident marks another setback in a challenging year for Starship, following three previous test flight failures in January, March, and May.
The repeated anomalies and delays are pushing back critical development objectives, including on-orbit propellant transfer essential for NASA's Artemis III moon mission and potential Mars landings.

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SpaceX’s massive Starship rocket suffered failures on its past three test flights in January, March, and May. And the setbacks keep coming.

Ahead of a 6-engine static fire test Wednesday evening, Starship “experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand,” SpaceX wrote on X. Video captured by NASASpaceflight cameras shows the rocket bursting into flames, creating an explosion that Ars Technica reported could be seen and heard as far as 30 miles away.

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.