Starbase, Texas — last night (18th June, around 11:00 PM CT), Flight 10 Starship upper stage aka Ship 36 exploded just before a static fire test.
SpaceX had successfully performed a single vacuum-engine static fire test on Starship 36 on Monday, 16th June. The seconds static fire test would’ve been performed by igniting all the 6 Raptor engines of the vehicle.
The ill-fated Starship 36 was mounted on a test stand located at the Starbase, Massey Outpost. According to SpaceX, the explosion occurred due to an anomaly.
The Starbase ground observation of NasaSpaceFlight.com recorded live scenes of the Flight 10 Starship 36 (video below). As of this writing, it has been less than 24 hours since the explosion; therefore, the exact reason for the anomaly is yet to be concluded.
According to SpaceX, no SpaceX personnel or humans were harmed due to the Starship explosion at Starbase or its surroundings. Safety protocols are on high alert at Starbase and the surrounding areas, and SpaceX has requested people to stay away from the site until it is cleared for safety.
SpaceX released the following official statement after the explosion:
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. A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for.
Our Starbase team is actively working to safe the test site and the immediate surrounding area in conjunction with local officials. 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
The massive explosion of Starship 36 resulted in a catastrophic fire that has apparently burned down the propellant tanks and nearby equipment completely.
Since the test stand at the Massey Outpost is a bit far from the launch site and the Orbital Launch Mount (OLM), the main launch area should be safe along with the live launch tank farm, the Mechazilla launch tower, and the under-construction OLM Pad 2.
SpaceX hasn’t provided further updates as safing activities are underway at Starbase.
Starship’s 10 flight test (IFT-10) is certainly going to face a delay as a new Starship spacecraft prototype is going to be assigned to this launch and landing test.
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