Elon Musk’s SpaceX ship 36 explodes in massive fireball, leaving Texas residents rattled

One of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets exploded in a fiery blast during a routine engine test in Texas, sending shockwaves through the local community and prompting an immediate response from the aerospace company.

The Starship 36 rocket erupted into flames during its second static fire test at SpaceX’s Massey’s Testing Centre around 11pm Wednesday (local time), as seen in a dramatic livestream.

Viewers were stunned as the rocket was suddenly engulfed by a massive fireball.

“Woah! No!” one person exclaimed during the live broadcast.

“Oh…my god,” another added, as a mushroom cloud rose into the night sky. “Ship 36 just blew up.”

Residents nearby reported a powerful rumble that shook windows and rattled kitchenware, according to reports online.

One user wrote, “Did anyone feel this explosion from space?”. Accompanied by a video of an explosion in the distance.

In a statement posted to X, SpaceX confirmed the explosion occurred during preparations for the Starship’s upcoming tenth flight test.

“At approximately 11pm CT, the Starship preparing for the tenth flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase,” the company said.

No injuries were reported, as safety protocols ensured that all personnel were cleared from the area before the test began.

“Our Starbase team is actively working to safe the test site and the immediate surrounding area in conjunction with local officials,” the statement read.

SpaceX also urged the public to stay clear of the area while recovery efforts were underway: “We ask that individuals do not attempt to approach the area while safety operations continue.”

The explosion is certain to delay Starship’s much-anticipated tenth test flight.

Static fire tests, such as the one conducted Wednesday, are critical pre-launch procedures used to simulate launch conditions and assess engine performance.