Setback to Elon Musk’s Mars project: SpaceX’s Starship explodes ahead of test flight

SpaceX’s ambitious Starship programme has hit another setback after a prototype of the heavy-lift rocket exploded during a ground test in Texas, US.

The incident occurred at Elon Musk’s aerospace company’s Boca Chica facility as engineers prepared for the tenth test flight of the Starship system, which aims to one day carry humans to the Moon and Mars.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), SpaceX confirmed that “all personnel are safe and accounted for,” and emphasised that there are “no hazards to residents in surrounding communities.”

A subsequent update from the company revealed that the explosion was caused by a failure in a pressurised component, specifically, a composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) located in the Starship’s nosecone.

While no injuries were reported, the explosion caused visible damage to the surrounding area near the test stand.

The event occurred during preparations for a planned static fire test of the rocket’s six Raptor engines, a key milestone ahead of the next launch.

This latest mishap might delay Starship’s tenth test flight, which the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had suggested could take place as early as June 29.

It follows a string of failures for Starship this year, with the rocket exploding during its seventh, eighth, and ninth tests.

Despite repeated setbacks, SpaceX CEO remains optimistic, describing the incident as “just a scratch.” 

Musk has previously stated that there is a 50/50 chance Starship could reach Mars by 2026 and hinted at a larger, improved “Version 3” possibly flying this year.