Brenna Cooper
It's another set back for Elon Musk's dream to colonise Mars as a SpaceX starship explodes into a giant fireball.
Last night (18 June), scientists at the SpaceX base in Texas were conducting a static fire test when it erupted into flames.
A static fire test involves a spacecraft being partially fuelled and ignited while bolted to the ground, meaning the Starship 36 rocket was not scheduled to lift off that night.
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It's not known what caused the incident, however, it is believed to have occurred moments before the test started, with the shocking moment the rocket erupted into a frightening ball of flames being caught on camera.
Confirming the incident in a statement posted to X, a spokesperson for the company said that all personnel were 'safe and accounted for', adding that locals were advised not to approach the site.
"On Wednesday, June 18 at approximately 11 p.m. CT, the Starship preparing for the tenth flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase," the read.
"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."
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The statement continued: "There are no hazards to residents in surrounding communities, and we ask that individuals do not attempt to approach the area while saving operations continue."
Watch the shocking moment below:
Residents in nearby towns were left startled by the impact, with ValleyCentral reporting that locals were left startled as the blast shook their windows and rattled dishes.
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According to KRGV, firefighters were dispatched that night to help contain the blaze, however, a full assessment of the incident and its cause is yet to be determined.
The explosion is the latest set back in a long list for Elon Musk and his space colonising ambitions. Last month, a SpaceX Starship travelling over the Indian Ocean met a fiery end. The ship, launched on 28 May, suffered 'a rapid unscheduled disassembly' moments after lift off.
Meanwhile, a $5 billion (£3.7 billion) heavy-lift rocket suffered an explosion during a similar static test.
Further explosions involving SpaceX starships have caused chaos in the skies, including one failed test earlier in the year which sent debris onto the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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Looks like Musk will be sticking around on Earth for the foreseeable future.