A SpaceX rocket erupted into a huge fireball during a routine test in Texas on Wednesday night.
The Starship 36 vehicle was undergoing a static fire test at Elon Musk’s Starbase facility around 11pm when dramatic footage captured the moment its nose suddenly ruptured.
As the brightness subsided, flames engulfed the area and thick plumes of black smoke rose high into the night sky.
The spacecraft "experienced a major anomaly" while on the test stand at Starbase, SpaceX's launch site, the company confirmed.
The Starship 36 vehicle was undergoing a static fire test at Elon Musk’s Starbase facility around 11pm when dramatic footage captured the moment its nose suddenly ruptured
@NASASpaceflight
SpaceX said: "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."
It added that 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 spectacular explosion transformed the test site into a scene of devastation within seconds, with flames engulfing the area where the 403-foot rocket had been secured.
The spacecraft 'experienced a major anomaly' while on the test stand at Starbase, SpaceX's launch site, the company confirmed@NASASpaceflight
The huge explosion sent shockwaves through the surrounding area, with local residents reporting that the blast shook windows.
Emergency services were called to the scene to tackle the blaze.
Static fire tests are standard pre-flight procedures in which rocket engines are ignited whilst the vehicle remains firmly bolted to the launch mount.
These tests are designed to verify engine performance and systems integration before an actual flight attempt.
The incident represents the latest in a series of setbacks for the Starship programme, which has experienced multiple test failures in recent months.
Just weeks ago, another Starship model exploded over the Indian Ocean during a test flight aimed at deploying Starlink satellite simulators and evaluating the vehicle's re-entry system.
Despite these failures, SpaceX maintains its commitment to rapid testing and development.
The company said: "With a test like this, success comes from what we learn, and today's test will help us improve Starship's reliability as SpaceX seeks to make life multi-planetary."
As the brightness subsided, flames engulfed the area and thick plumes of black smoke rose high into the night sky
@NASASpaceflight
Elon Musk, SpaceX's chief executive, recently indicated that launch frequency would increase to "approximately one every 3 to 4 weeks" for upcoming flights.
"Developmental testing by definition is unpredictable," SpaceX wrote on their website.
"But by putting hardware in a flight environment as frequently as possible, we're able to quickly learn and execute design changes as we seek to bring Starship online as a fully and rapidly reusable vehicle."