By Emeka Blast 
Massive Fireball as SpaceX Rocket Explodes
On June 18, 2025, a SpaceX Starship rocket, specifically the upper stage of Ship 36, exploded into a massive fireball during a routine static fire test at the Starbase facility in South Texas, just outside Brownsville. The incident occurred around 11 p.m. local time while the rocket was being prepared for its 10th test flight. SpaceX described the event as a “major anomaly,” and preliminary data shared by CEO Elon Musk suggests a high-pressure nitrogen tank (a composite overwrapped pressure vessel, or COPV) in the payload bay failed below its proof pressure, a rare occurrence for this design. No injuries were reported, and a safety clear area ensured no hazards to surrounding communities, though the explosion rattled windows and dishes in nearby Brownsville, about 22 miles away. The blast, captured on livestreams by NASASpaceflight.com and LabPadre, showed the rocket’s nose bursting open, sending fiery debris and thick black smoke into the night sky, with fires burning for hours afterward.
This marks the fourth Starship failure in 2025, following test flight explosions in January, March, and May, where rockets either broke apart mid-flight or spun out of control, scattering debris over the Caribbean and Indian Ocean. These setbacks contrast with SpaceX’s successful 2024 tests, which included a Super Heavy booster catch. The Starship program, critical for NASA’s Artemis lunar missions and Musk’s Mars colonization goals, faces delays as SpaceX investigates the cause and coordinates with local and federal authorities. Musk downplayed the incident on X, calling it “just a scratch,” while emphasizing the need to learn from such tests to improve reliability. The next test flight, originally planned for June 29, is likely delayed pending further investigation.
