SpaceX’s Starship 36 erupted in a massive fireball during a ground test on June 18 2025 at 11:01 p.m. ET delaying its 10th flight. If you’re tracking Elon Musk’s space vision or eyeing space investments here’s how to stay informed and seize opportunities.
What Happened at Starbase?
On Wednesday June 18 at 11:01 p.m. ET SpaceX was running a static fire test on Starship 36 at Massey’s Testing Center in Starbase Texas. The test fires the rocket’s six Raptor engines while it’s anchored to the ground. But during liquid oxygen loading a catastrophic explosion likely from a fuel leak or tank rupture turned the upper stage into a fireball. No one was hurt thanks to SpaceX’s safety zones but the blast wrecked the prototype and nearby gear pushing back Flight 10 planned for June 29.
A nearby eyewitness told locals the explosion “felt like a bomb” with flames lighting up the night sky and smoke drifting toward Brownsville. The roar was so intense it rattled windows miles away.
Why This Explosion Stings
Starship a 400-foot beast is SpaceX’s ticket to Mars and NASA’s Artemis III Moon mission. It’s meant to be fully reusable slashing space travel costs. But 2025’s been rough Flights 7 and 8 exploded over the Atlantic and Flight 9 spun out of control from a fuel leak. This ground test failure the third major blow this year raises questions about reliability. The FAA’s now investigating which could delay launches for weeks.
The news stung fans and investors alike. Each explosion yields data but delays chip away at Musk’s Mars timeline and NASA’s lunar plans. SpaceX’s knack for quick recoveries keeps hope alive though.
What’s Next for Starship?
Flight 10 was set to test in-space burns and reusability but it’s now on hold. SpaceX might switch to Ship 37 or rebuild fast they’ve done it before. The FAA’s review could take weeks slowing NASA’s 2027 Moon shot and Musk’s 2026 Mars goal. Social media’s buzzing some call it a “disaster” others say “it’s progress.” One fan I saw likened it to Apollo’s early flops that still led to moonwalks.