SpaceX rocket explodes into a massive fireball during test
Texas: A SpaceX Starship rocket exploded into a huge fireball while preparing for a routine test on Wednesday.
The rocket, designed to be the most powerful in the world, was preparing for its tenth test flight at the SpaceX Starbase facility at the southern tip of Texas.
Local officials confirmed the explosion took place at a time when the rocket was preparing for a "routine static fire test" of its engines.
That means engineers were set to test the rocket's engines with the craft still held down on its launch pad. But something went wrong and the rocket exploded.
SpaceX described the incident as a "major anomaly," writing in a statement on X that: "A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for."
CEO Elon Musk said there were no hazards to nearby communities and asked people not to approach the site.
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HOUSTON: One of Elon Musk's SpaceX Starships exploded during a routine test in Texas late on Wednesday, law enforcement officials said, in the latest setback to the billionaire's dream of turning humanity into an interplanetary species. The Starship 36 suffered "catastrophic failure and exploded" at the Starbase launch facility shortly after 11:00 pm (0400 GMT, Thursday), a Facebook post by Cameron County authorities said. A video shared with the post showed the megarocket attached to the launch arm and then a flash and a towering, fiery explosion. Musk's Space X said the rocket was preparing for the tenth flight test when it "experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase," without elaborating on the nature of the complication. "A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for," Space X said on social media. "There are no hazards to residents in surrounding communities, and we ask that individuals do not attempt to approach the area." — AFP
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SpaceX rocket explodes into a massive fireball during test
Texas: A SpaceX Starship rocket exploded into a huge fireball while preparing for a routine test on Wednesday. The rocket, designed to be the most powerful in the world, was preparing for its tenth test flight at the SpaceX Starbase facility at the southern tip of Texas. Local officials confirmed the explosion took place at a time when the rocket was preparing for a "routine static fire test" of its engines. That means engineers were set to test the rocket's engines with the craft still held down on its launch pad. But something went wrong and the rocket exploded. SpaceX described the incident as a "major anomaly," writing in a statement on X that: "A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for." CEO Elon Musk said there were no hazards to nearby communities and asked people not to approach the site.
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