Elon Musk's SpaceX Starship explodes during routine test in Texas, marking latest setback in Mars mission

Elon Musk-owned aerospace firm SpaceX suffered another blow to its Mars ambitions late on Wednesday, when a Starship prototype exploded during a routine ground test at the company's Starbase facility in southern Texas.
According to a statement from Cameron County authorities, the vehicle, known as Starship 36, experienced a 'catastrophic failure and exploded' shortly after 11:00 pm local time (04:00 GMT Thursday). The rocket was undergoing a static fire test, a standard procedure that involves firing the engines while the spacecraft remains anchored to the launch pad.
Footage shared on social media captured the moment of the explosion, showing a bright flash followed by a towering plume of fire engulfing the rocket, which was attached to the launch tower.
SpaceX later confirmed the incident, stating the vehicle encountered 'a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase.' While the company did not disclose the specific cause, it emphasised that safety protocols were followed. 'A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation, and all personnel are safe and accounted for,' the company said on social media.
Authorities also assured the public that there is no danger to nearby communities and urged people not to approach the area while 'safing' operations continue.
The explosion is the latest in a series of high-profile setbacks for SpaceX's Starship programme, a central pillar of Musk's long-term goal to make humanity a multiplanetary species. The fully reusable rocket, which stands 123 metres tall, is the most powerful ever built and is designed to carry payloads of up to 150 metric tonnes into space.
This incident comes just weeks after a previous Starship test flight ended in failure, when the vehicle broke apart over the Indian Ocean following launch. Another test in May saw the Super Heavy booster explode during its descent, rather than executing a controlled splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. Two earlier missions also ended with the upper stage disintegrating mid-flight.
Nonetheless, SpaceX continues to pursue its 'fail fast, learn fast' philosophy, which it credits for its dominance in the commercial space sector. The company has recently succeeded in catching the Super Heavy booster with Starbase's massive robotic launch arms — an engineering milestone viewed as critical to reducing launch turnaround times and costs.
NASA, which relies heavily on SpaceX for crew transport via its Dragon spacecraft, remains one of the company's key partners. In May, the US Federal Aviation Administration approved an expansion of SpaceX's annual Starship launches from five to 25, despite pushback from environmental groups concerned about the impact on local wildlife, such as sea turtles and migratory birds.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Time of India

39 minutes ago

• Time of India

Elon Musk's X may get another service, Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino says 'that's the future'

Social media platform X (formerly Twitter ) is moving aggressively into financial services, with CEO Linda Yaccarino announcing that users will soon be able to make investments and trades directly on the platform. This push appears to be central to owner Elon Musk 's ambition to transform X into an "everything app," similar to China's WeChat. "You'll be able to come to X and be able to transact your whole financial life on the platform," Yaccarino said in an interview with the Financial Times. 'And that's whether I can pay you for the pizza that we shared last night or make an investment or a trade. So that's the future,' she added. Adding to these plans, the company is also exploring the introduction of an X credit or debit card, potentially launching as early as this year. Twitter is already working on X Money This foray into finance comes as X has already committed to introducing X Money , a digital wallet and peer-to-peer payment service, with Visa as its initial partner later this year. Yaccarino confirmed that X Money will debut in the US first before a global rollout. The service aims to enable users to purchase merchandise, store value and tip creators directly on the platform. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ductless Air Conditioners Are Selling Like Crazy [See Why] Keep Cool Click Here Undo "A whole commerce ecosystem and a financial ecosystem is going to emerge on the platform that does not exist today," she emphasised. The platform's pivot to new revenue streams comes as it continues to struggle with financial headwinds. Since Elon Musk's $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022, when it was rebranded as X, the company has seen a mass exodus of advertisers – its primary source of revenue. Several brands cited concerns over Musk's relaxed approach to content moderation, which could place their ads near objectionable content, as well as the billionaire's own controversial use of the platform. World Music Day 2025: Tech That Changed How We Listen to Music AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now

India.com

an hour ago

• India.com

Musk makes big move amid rift with Trump, decides to open…, India set to benefit due to….

Earlier this month, Elon Musk's Starlink received a licence from the telecom department for providing satellite internet services in India, a key milestone that will take it closer towards launching commercial operations in the country. COO of Elon Musk's SpaceX, Gwynne Shotwell, on Tuesday called on Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, a meeting that comes just days after Starlink secured a licence from the Telecom Department. Scindia said discussions centred around various opportunities for collaboration in satellite communications to power Digital India. Elon Musk's recent initiatives in India shows his increasing focus on the country. These developments come at a time when Musk's tensions with the U.S. President Donald Trump has been growing in recent times. Tesla's Entry In India After the Starlink launch, now Tesla is set to open its first showroom in India by July in Mumbai. The company is importing its Model Y SUVs from its factory in China. Tesla's first batch of vehicles, comprising five Model Y rear-wheel drive SUVs, has already arrived in India. These vehicles were shipped from Tesla's Shanghai factory. According to Bloomberg News, based on official documents, the Model Y is currently the world's best-selling electric vehicle. Tesla's first showroom will open in Mumbai, likely by mid-July after which another in New Delhi. The company has also imported parts for superchargers, car accessories, and other equipment from the U.S., China, and the Netherlands to support its operations. Tesla Car Pricing The five Model Y SUVs that arrived in Mumbai are priced at Rs 27.7 lakh each. However, due to India's high import duties, over Rs 21 lakh in tariffs have been added to the cost. Fully built imported cars priced under $40,000 are subject to a 70% tariff in India, along with additional charges. Starlink In India Starlink is a satellite internet service developed by SpaceX the American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company founded in 2002 by the world's richest man Musk. It provides high-speed, low-latency broadband internet worldwide using satellite technology and is aptly described by some as broadband beamed from the skies. Unlike conventional satellite services that rely on distant geostationary satellites, Starlink utilises the world's largest low Earth orbit or LEO constellation (550 km above Earth). This constellation of LEO satellites (7,000 now but eventually set to grow to over 40,000) and its mesh delivers broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, and video calls. Starlink, which had been vying for an India licence for some time now, recently signed pacts with Ambani's Reliance Jio and Mittal's Bharti Airtel, which together control more than 70 per cent of the country's telecom market, to bring the US satellite internet giant's services to India. (With Inputs From PTI)

Business Standard

2 hours ago

• Business Standard

Tesla to launch India showrooms in July with China-made Model Y EVs

Tesla will open its first showrooms in India in July, starting with Mumbai and New Delhi, bringing in China-made Model Y EVs as it seeks growth amid slower sales in Europe and China New Delhi Elon Musk -led Tesla will open its first showrooms in India next month, according to a Bloomberg report quoting sources. The electric vehicle maker is entering the world's third-largest car market as it looks for growth amid declining sales in China and Europe. Tesla is expected to open doors to its first showroom in Mumbai by mid-July. A second showroom in New Delhi will follow soon after, the report added. The first batch of Tesla cars has already reached India. These are Model Y rear-wheel drive SUVs, made in Tesla's factory in China. 'Model Y is the world's largest selling electric car,' as per the automaker. The company has also shipped Supercharger parts, accessories, merchandise and spare parts from the US, China and the Netherlands. Breakthrough after years of delays Completely Built Up (CBU) passenger vehicles that cost more than $40,000 face an import duty of 70 per cent, with an additional 40 per cent Agriculture Infrastructure and Development cess, making them prohibitively expensive. Completely Knocked Down (CKD) passenger vehicles that need to be assembled locally must pay a 15 per cent basic customs duty and 1.5 per cent social welfare surcharge. Tesla has not issued any statement on the matter so far. Premium price for Indian market Five Model Y cars have arrived in Mumbai from Tesla's Shanghai plant, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg. They were declared at ₹27.7 lakh (around $31,988) each, attracting more than ₹21 lakh in import duties, which matches India's 70 per cent customs tariff on fully built-up imported passenger vehicles priced under $40,000. Tesla may price the Model Y at over $56,000 in India before taxes and insurance, depending on its margins and market positioning. In comparison, the same model is priced at $44,990 in the US — or $37,490 after tax credits. The steep pricing may be a challenge for Tesla, as the company will have to win over price-conscious Indian buyers. While EVs now make up just over 5 per cent of new passenger vehicle sales in India, premium cars are still under 2 per cent, according to data from the government's vehicle registration portal. Tesla expands hiring, infra in India Tesla is increasing hiring across its charging, retail, and policy teams. The initial Model Y shipment is just the start, with the carmaker planning to expand its presence and offer more models. It has leased warehouse space in Karnataka in the south and is adding more space in Gurugram, a splashy neighbour of the national capital of New Delhi. Tesla executives from other countries are now visiting India on an almost weekly basis to inspect the Mumbai and New Delhi showrooms, which are located in premium business districts to attract wealthy buyers.