Starship Ship 36 suffers Major Anomaly Explosion, Pad Blow Up...Here's What Happened

The world of space exploration is never short of surprises, and SpaceX just delivered one of the most dramatic developments in recent memory. Ship 36, one of the most anticipated components of the Starship program, was destroyed in a catastrophic explosion during a static fire test at the Massie test site. This incident couldn’t have come at a more critical moment—just hours after the FAA confirmed June 29 as the official launch date for Flight 10.

Let’s dive into the latest updates, uncover the potential causes behind this disaster, and explore what’s next for SpaceX, Honda’s space ambitions, and Firefly Aerospace’s lunar imaging breakthrough.

What Happened to Starship Ship 36?

A Routine Test Turns Disastrous

At around 11:02 PM Central Time on June 18, Ship 36 was being prepared for a full six-engine Raptor static fire test. Following a successful single-engine ignition, everything seemed on track—until it wasn’t. The venting behavior during fueling became erratic, and moments later, a massive explosion engulfed the Massie test pad in fire and smoke.

Flames lit up the night sky, and the sound of the blast echoed for miles. Ship 36 was completely destroyed, along with significant damage to the surrounding infrastructure, including the test stand and fuel tanks.

SpaceX’s Official Response

SpaceX quickly released a statement on X:

“On Wednesday, June 18 at approximately 11 PM CT, the Starship preparing for the 10th flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase.“

They confirmed that all personnel were safe and asked the public to avoid the area while safing operations continued.

Analyzing the Explosion: What Could Have Gone Wrong?

While SpaceX has yet to release the root cause of the explosion, experts and analysts have started piecing together a likely chain of events.

Potential Fuel Leak and Ignition

A strong theory involves a propellant leak, possibly from the liquid methane (LCH4) tank or fuel lines. If this leak came into contact with an ignition source—such as electrical components or residual heat—it could have caused a chain reaction leading to a full-blown explosion.

The inconsistent venting activity prior to the incident supports this hypothesis, suggesting pressure irregularities or internal damage.

Why the Timing Is So Critical

Flight 10 Launch Was Just Confirmed

The explosion happened mere hours after the FAA gave the green light for Flight 10, officially setting the launch window for June 29, with a backup on June 30. That launch would have been historic:

Second back-to-back monthly Starship launch
Potential record for the shortest turnaround between launches (37–38 days)
A key step toward multiple launches in 2025

Now, everything hangs in the balance.

Implications for the Starship Program

Damage at Massie Site

The destruction of Ship 36 and potential damage to the Massie infrastructure means a significant delay in the Starship timeline. The site must now undergo inspection, repairs, and re-certification, which could take days or even weeks.

Ship 37: The Next Hope?

Ship 37 is the most likely candidate to replace the now-destroyed Ship 36. It’s currently being prepared but needs more time before it’s flight-ready. If SpaceX moves quickly, a July launch is still possible—but that’s a big “if.”

Can SpaceX Still Meet Its 2025 Goals?

Flight Cadence Goals

As of now, four Starship flights have occurred in 2025. Flight 10 was meant to keep the cadence on track for a busy second half of the year. A delay here could disrupt plans for:

Additional Starship launches
Human landing system milestones under NASA’s Artemis program
Starlink Gen2 deployments

But SpaceX is known for its rapid iteration model: fail fast, learn fast, fix fast. If any company can bounce back swiftly, it’s SpaceX.

Honda Joins the Space Race with a Rocket Milestone

A Successful Vertical Landing Test

While the Ship 36 explosion stole headlines, Honda quietly made history in Hokkaido, Japan. On June 17, the automaker successfully carried out a reusable rocket test with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL).

Reached 271.4 meters altitude
Landed just 37 cm from its target
Entire flight lasted 56 seconds

This marks a major step for Honda as it enters the aerospace domain with ambitions for suborbital launches by 2029.

Technical Specs of Honda’s Rocket

Height: 6.3 meters
Diameter: 85 cm
Dry weight: 900 kg, Fully fueled: 1,312 kg
Features grid fins and foldable landing legs

Honda’s venture is part of Japan’s broader goal to reduce reliance on foreign launch services and develop indigenous space capabilities.

Firefly Aerospace’s Game-Changing Lunar Imaging System

Introducing “Ocula” – Eyes on the Moon

Firefly Aerospace has announced a powerful new tool: Ocula, a commercial lunar imaging system. Built into its Elytra orbiters, Ocula aims to:

Provide high-resolution lunar imaging
Support scientific exploration, resource detection, and national security
Monitor cis-lunar space

This system is expected to be operational by 2026.

Why Ocula Matters

Ocula’s cameras, developed in partnership with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, can:

Resolve features as small as 2 meters
Scan in ultraviolet and visible light
Identify potential landing sites and lunar resources like helium-3

Future Launches and Expansion

The first Ocula-equipped Elytra will launch with Blue Ghost Mission 2, delivering a European Space Agency probe. Another will follow in 2028, and Firefly plans to scale up the constellation over time to serve both lunar and Mars missions.

The Bigger Picture: The Accelerating Space Race

Between SpaceX’s trials, Honda’s vertical landing success, and Firefly’s lunar innovations, the modern space race is heating up from all directions. Governments and private companies alike are:

Pushing the boundaries of rocket science
Competing to provide launch services, imaging systems, and infrastructure
Racing toward lunar bases, orbital stations, and eventually Mars

What’s Next for SpaceX After Ship 36?

Quick Recovery or Prolonged Delay?

SpaceX must now:

Inspect and repair the Massie site
Prepare Ship 37 as a replacement
Possibly shift the launch date to July or August
Maintain cadence for its 2025 goals

A successful Flight 10 will be more than just another test—it’ll be a symbol of resilience.

Final Thoughts

Space exploration is risky, and with risk comes setbacks. But these moments also offer valuable lessons and opportunities for rapid improvement.

Whether you’re a space enthusiast, engineer, investor, or just curious, it’s clear we’re witnessing a new era of aerospace advancement—one test, one launch, one explosion at a time.

FAQs

1. What happened to Starship Ship 36?

Starship Ship 36 exploded during a static fire test at the Massie test site due to a major anomaly. The incident destroyed the vehicle and likely damaged nearby infrastructure.

2. Was anyone injured in the explosion?

No. All personnel were safe during the explosion. SpaceX confirmed that a safety perimeter was in place, and there were no hazards to nearby communities.

3. What caused the Ship 36 explosion?

SpaceX has not confirmed the cause, but a likely theory is a fuel leak that came into contact with an ignition source, leading to a chain reaction and explosion.

4. How will this affect Starship Flight 10?

The explosion of Ship 36 may delay Flight 10, which was scheduled for June 29–30. SpaceX may need to replace the ship and repair the Massie test pad before proceeding.

5. Will Ship 37 be used instead of Ship 36?

Yes. Ship 37 is the most likely replacement for Flight 10, but it will need time for integration and testing before it can fly.

6. What is the Massie test site?

The Massie site is a dedicated test facility at SpaceX’s Starbase used for static fires and vehicle qualification. It sustained damage in the recent explosion.

7. How many Starship flights have there been in 2025?

So far, four Starship flights have taken place in 2025. Flight 10 was expected to be the fifth, helping SpaceX stay on track with its launch cadence goals.

8. What milestones would Flight 10 have achieved?

Flight 10 would have marked the fastest turnaround between Starship flights and kept SpaceX on schedule for multiple Starship launches in the second half of 2025.

9. What is Honda’s new rocket project?

Honda successfully tested a compact reusable rocket with vertical takeoff and landing. It aims to achieve suborbital launch capability by 2029.

10. Where did Honda conduct its rocket test?

The test was conducted at Honda’s launch site in Taiiki, Hokkaido, Japan, a growing hub for aerospace innovation in the region.

11. What is Firefly Aerospace’s Ocula system?

Ocula is a new lunar imaging system by Firefly Aerospace, designed to provide high-resolution images of the Moon’s surface from lunar orbit using Elytra spacecraft.

12. When will Firefly’s Ocula begin operations?

Ocula is expected to begin lunar imaging operations in 2026, with the first launch planned as part of Blue Ghost Mission 2.

Starship Ship 36 suffers Major Anomaly Explosion, Pad Blow Up…Here’s What Happened