Latest news with #aerospace
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Starship's 4th straight rocket explosion is the latest public setback for Musk's Mars dreams
SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded during a test at its Texas Starbase campus. The explosion is the fourth failure for SpaceX's Starship rockets this year. SpaceX uses failures to improve — but it's supposed to put astronauts on the moon by 2027. SpaceX's flagship rockets keep blowing up. On Wednesday night, one of the Elon Musk-run space technology company's latest rockets erupted into an inferno on the launchpad. The explosion, which enveloped a portion of SpaceX's Starbase campus in Texas in fire and smoke, was meant to be a routine test ahead of a launch for the company's Starship program. The company plans to use Starship rockets — the successor to its Falcon models — to conduct missions to the moon, and eventually, Mars. Wednesday's explosion marks the fourth consecutive failure for SpaceX's Starship rockets this year. In May, a Starship rocket successfully made it through the Earth's atmosphere — but failed to release a payload of practice satellites into space and then spun out of control on its trip back to the planet. Starship rockets also exploded on two other trips this year. SpaceX has embraced its failures, using data collected from explosions and missteps to improve future products. Wednesday's explosion was intended to be a "static fire test," where the engines fire while the rocket is held on the launchpad with clamps, rather than launched into the atmosphere. Musk brushed off the mishap as "just a scratch." He said that preliminary data showed the failure was related to a container of pressurized nitrogen in the payload bay. "If further investigation confirms that this is what happened, it is the first time ever for this design," Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter. A representative for SpaceX didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. On X, the company said the test experienced "a major anomaly." It said all of the company's personnel were safe and accounted for. This year's string of failures marks a stark departure from last year, where the Starship program had better success, proving that its rockets could be reused and even land vertically after a trip to space. Although SpaceX is a private company, Musk had come under scrutiny from Tesla shareholders earlier this year over his role in President Donald Trump's administration. A number of major shareholders have complained that Musk had been spending less time operating the company while he oversaw the Department of Government Efficiency. SpaceX is heavily reliant on government contracts, and has one with NASA for the Starship to put astronauts on the moon by 2027, before Trump's term ends. Musk left the administration earlier this month and exchanged verbal volleys with Trump, accusing him without evidence of blocking the release of government documents related to the now-dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The White House called Musk's comments "unfortunate." SpaceX typically conducts test launches frequently and has a high tolerance for failure, knowing the next test is just around the corner. The strategy has worked well for the company's Falcon rocket program, which in over a decade has launched hundreds of flights. On Monday, the company successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket into space. The rocket sent more than two dozen Starlink satellites into orbit. "SpaceX's philosophy is 'fail fast, learn faster' and usually is undeterred by failures like this one," wrote space policy analyst Marcia Smith of the Starship explosion. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Starship's 4th straight rocket explosion is the latest public setback for Musk's Mars dreams
SpaceX's Starship rocket exploded during a test at its Texas Starbase campus. The explosion is the fourth failure for SpaceX's Starship rockets this year. SpaceX uses failures to improve — but it's supposed to put astronauts on the moon by 2027. SpaceX's flagship rockets keep blowing up. On Wednesday night, one of the Elon Musk-run space technology company's latest rockets erupted into an inferno on the launchpad. The explosion, which enveloped a portion of SpaceX's Starbase campus in Texas in fire and smoke, was meant to be a routine test ahead of a launch for the company's Starship program. The company plans to use Starship rockets — the successor to its Falcon models — to conduct missions to the moon, and eventually, Mars. Wednesday's explosion marks the fourth consecutive failure for SpaceX's Starship rockets this year. In May, a Starship rocket successfully made it through the Earth's atmosphere — but failed to release a payload of practice satellites into space and then spun out of control on its trip back to the planet. Starship rockets also exploded on two other trips this year. SpaceX has embraced its failures, using data collected from explosions and missteps to improve future products. Wednesday's explosion was intended to be a "static fire test," where the engines fire while the rocket is held on the launchpad with clamps, rather than launched into the atmosphere. Musk brushed off the mishap as "just a scratch." He said that preliminary data showed the failure was related to a container of pressurized nitrogen in the payload bay. "If further investigation confirms that this is what happened, it is the first time ever for this design," Musk wrote on X, formerly Twitter. A representative for SpaceX didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. On X, the company said the test experienced "a major anomaly." It said all of the company's personnel were safe and accounted for. This year's string of failures marks a stark departure from last year, where the Starship program had better success, proving that its rockets could be reused and even land vertically after a trip to space. Although SpaceX is a private company, Musk had come under scrutiny from Tesla shareholders earlier this year over his role in President Donald Trump's administration. A number of major shareholders have complained that Musk had been spending less time operating the company while he oversaw the Department of Government Efficiency. SpaceX is heavily reliant on government contracts, and has one with NASA for the Starship to put astronauts on the moon by 2027, before Trump's term ends. Musk left the administration earlier this month and exchanged verbal volleys with Trump, accusing him without evidence of blocking the release of government documents related to the now-dead pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The White House called Musk's comments "unfortunate." SpaceX typically conducts test launches frequently and has a high tolerance for failure, knowing the next test is just around the corner. The strategy has worked well for the company's Falcon rocket program, which in over a decade has launched hundreds of flights. On Monday, the company successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket into space. The rocket sent more than two dozen Starlink satellites into orbit. "SpaceX's philosophy is 'fail fast, learn faster' and usually is undeterred by failures like this one," wrote space policy analyst Marcia Smith of the Starship explosion. Read the original article on Business Insider
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- Science
- South China Morning Post
SpaceX Starship explodes in setback to Elon Musk's Mars mission
A SpaceX Starship rocket exploded on a test stand in Texas, adding to a series of setbacks to Elon Musk's space ambitions that include trips to Mars. The huge blast enveloped the craft as it stood upright on a test stand, before massive plumes of flames and smoke mushroomed into the night sky, video footage of the incident late Wednesday showed. The incident shook windows and rattled dishes, according to local media reports. The rocket appeared to be undergoing a routine 'static fire test' of its engines. A static fire test is a pre-launch procedure in which a rocket's engines are fired while the rocket remains securely held down on the ground – essentially a rehearsal for the real launch, allowing engineers to test the rocket's systems without actually sending it into space. Musk said on social media that a specialised bottle that holds nitrogen is likely to have failed. 'If further investigation confirms that this is what happened, it is the first time ever for this design,' he said.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Watch: SpaceX Starship explodes due to ‘major anomaly' during test at Texas base
STARBASE, Texas – A routine test led to fireworks Wednesday night, when a SpaceX Starship exploded on the launch pad at the company's base in South Texas. While undergoing a static fire test ahead of its tenth test flight, SpaceX Starship 36 burst into flames and sent debris and plumes of smoke across the launchpad. Footage showed the explosion occurring just after 11 p.m. local time, as it lit up the dark night. SpaceX said the cause of the explosion was a "major anomaly" and noted that safety measures were being taken. How To Watch Fox Weather "On Wednesday, June 18 at approximately 11 p.m. CT, the Starship preparing for the tenth flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase," SpaceX posted on X. "A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for." They added that the surrounding community is not at risk of hazards from the article source: Watch: SpaceX Starship explodes due to 'major anomaly' during test at Texas base
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX rocket explodes during test
A SpaceX rocket exploded late Wednesday during a static fire test, which the company attributed to 'a major anomaly.' 'On Wednesday, June 18 at approximately 11 p.m. CT, the Starship preparing for the tenth flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase,' the aerospace company, owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk, wrote early Thursday on the social platform X. 'A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for,' it added. Footage of the incident at the Texas facility obtained by The Wall Street Journal showed an expansive explosion and large flames, with debris falling from the sky. 'Just a scratch,' Musk posted to X — which he also owns — without directly acknowledging the incident. In May, another SpaceX Starship rocket spun out of control and broke up during a test flight. The Federal Aviation Administration later requested an investigation into the mishap. The company on Thursday said the latest explosion left no hazards for residents in the area. 'Our Starbase team is actively working to safe the test site and the immediate surrounding area in conjunction with local officials,' SpaceX wrote online. 'There are no hazards to residents in surrounding communities, and we ask that individuals do not attempt to approach the area while safing operations continue,' it added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
