SpaceX Starship explodes during ground test

A huge blast enveloped a SpaceX Starship as it stood upright on a test stand, sending massive plumes of flames and smoke mushrooming into the night sky. The June 18, 2025, incident shook windows and rattled dishes, according to local media reports. The rocket appeared to be undergoing a “static fire test” of its engines, a routine pre-launch procedure in which a rocket’s engines are fired while the rocket remains securely held down on the ground. The rehearsal for an actual launch allows engineers to test rocket systems before they head into space. The incident adds to a series of prior setbacks and launch failures that have dampened Elon Musk’s space ambitions, which include missions to Mars.