SpaceX Starship explodes in setback to Elon Musk’s Mars mission

A SpaceX Starship rocket exploded on a test stand in Texas, adding to a series of setbacks to Elon Musk’s space ambitions that include trips to Mars.

The huge blast enveloped the craft as it stood upright on a test stand, before massive plumes of flames and smoke mushroomed into the night sky, video footage of the incident late Wednesday showed.

The incident shook windows and rattled dishes, according to local media reports.

The rocket appeared to be undergoing a routine “static fire test” of its engines. A static fire test is a pre-launch procedure in which a rocket’s engines are fired while the rocket remains securely held down on the ground – essentially a rehearsal for the real launch, allowing engineers to test the rocket’s systems without actually sending it into space.

Musk said on social media that a specialised bottle that holds nitrogen is likely to have failed.

“If further investigation confirms that this is what happened, it is the first time ever for this design,” he said.