An explosion has occurred at SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas during a deluge test for its Starship rocket, the world's largest launch vehicle. The incident was captured on a NASASpaceflight livestream, showing a large plume of smoke and debris flying hundreds of metres into the air.
Details of the Incident
SpaceX was conducting a deluge test, a procedure that involves spraying water at the rocket's base to mitigate flames during launch. The test went awry, resulting in an explosion that sent debris across the site. No injuries have been reported, and SpaceX has not yet commented on the cause of the explosion.
Impact on Starship Programme
The Starship rocket is crucial for NASA's Artemis programme, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon by 2028—a date that has already faced delays. No specific date has been set for the next Starship flight test, though Elon Musk previously indicated it was 4 to 6 weeks away from early April. This incident may further delay the timeline.
SpaceX has a history of explosive incidents during Starship development, including a previous test flight that ended in a fireball. The company has emphasised that such tests are part of the development process, gathering critical data to improve the rocket's design.
