SpaceX rocket being tested explodes into giant fireball before launch in Texas | Science, Climate & Tech News

A SpaceX rocket has exploded before launch – sending a dramatic fireball high into the sky.

Starship 36 was preparing for its 10th test flight at Starbase – SpaceX’s launch site at the southern tip of Texas – when the incident occurred on Wednesday evening.

During take off procedures just after 11pm local time, the rocket exploded into a giant fireball.

The company described the incident as a “major anomaly”.

In a statement, it added: “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.”

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It marks the latest failure for the space flight company, which hopes that Starship will one day be used to ferry people and cargo to Mars.

Last month, a Starship test flight began spinning out of control about 30 minutes after its launch because of fuel leaks – meaning it broke up on re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.

That followed explosive past failures in January, where a rocket blew up about eight minutes after take-off, and March, which forced flights in Florida to be temporarily grounded.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said in May that despite the rocket failure, the test flight was a “big improvement”.

A day later, he said he wants to send a spacecraft crewed by humanoid robots on a voyage to Mars by the end of 2026.