Shocking moment SpaceX Starship explodes mid-test

New footage released Thursday (June 19) captured the dramatic explosion of SpaceX’s Starship 36 during a static fire test at the company’s Starbase facility in Brownsville, Texas. The blast occurred on Wednesday night at around 11 p.m. CT, when the spacecraft experienced what SpaceX described as a “major anomaly” on the test stand. In a statement posted to X, the company said there were no hazards to nearby residents and urged the public to stay away from the area as safety operations continued. Eyewitness Andrew C., who filmed the test from roughly 1.8 miles away, described the moment the rocket exploded and caught fire, sending debris into the air. Local authorities confirmed no injuries were reported, and an investigation is underway. The incident comes just days after reports that the White House had ordered a review of federal contracts with SpaceX following rising tensions between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.