In a fiery display reminiscent of a Fourth of July celebration gone wrong, a SpaceX rocket exploded in Texas during test preparations, leaving both the night sky and the Super Heavy-Starship program in shambles—at least for now.

The explosion, described by SpaceX as a 'major anomaly', occurred just after 11 p.m. on June 18, 2025, during preparations for the tenth flight test of Starship 36 at the company’s Starbase facility. While thankfully no injuries were reported, nearby residents were left reeling as their homes shook from the blast, and firefighting efforts struggled against a fireball that lit up the sky for hours. This setback poses a looming question for NASA, which is counting on the Super Heavy-Starship to safely return astronauts to the Moon in the near future, making all of us ponder just how many 'major anomalies' it will take before they consider some good old-fashioned elevators.

Despite the dramatic explosion, SpaceX confirmed that all personnel on site were safe and accounted for, a feat that likely earned some high-fives amongst the team. While the immediate loss of the rocket was unfortunate, it appears nobody was forced to take an impromptu detour to a nearby hospital, which is always a win in the world of rocket testing.

For those curious about the official drumming up of terms, SpaceX quickly designated the incident as a 'major anomaly'. This title is somewhat akin to calling a hurricane a 'slight breeze'—it certainly captures the magnitude, just with a splash of understatement. Anomaly, indeed; one has to wonder if they’ll add ‘enthusiastic firework display’ to their repertoire of technical jargon.

Following the explosion, the fire raged on stubbornly, refusing to fade away even as hours slipped by. Local residents might have thought they accidentally dialed back to New Year's Eve, when firework displays went spectacularly overboard. As families peered out their windows, presumably clutching their pets, one can only guess they were left wondering if they’d have to install an in-house 'firework shield', just in case.

In an effort to maintain safety—because nothing says 'professional operation' quite like an unnecessary fireball—SpaceX maintained a safety clear area around the site throughout the operation. Just imagine the safety briefing: 'Please remain calm, avoid fireballs, and for your own safety, it’s best to steer clear of the illuminated rocket that just transformed into a roaring inferno.'

As for the ramifications, this latest explosion represents yet another setback for SpaceX's Super Heavy-Starship program. The company was preparing for a launch with Starship atop a Super Heavy booster by the end of the month; however, with a dramatic fireball that sent debris high into the sky, those plans may need some reimagining, or at least a very thorough inspection.

This incident does not exist in isolation. In fact, it joins a merry band of previous mishaps, including earlier test flights that ended in similarly spectacular explosions or breakups—an unscheduled farewell for rockets apparently meant to touch the cosmos. It raises curious eyebrows about the Starship’s reliability: Is it built for space travel, or is it secretly moonlighting as an improv show?

For NASA, the stakes are particularly high. The agency is relying heavily on the Starship for its Human Landing System, which is crucial for returning astronauts to the Moon in the coming years. One might wonder how many stars must align before the craft shoots into the sky without incident. Perhaps there’ll be a new pre-launch ritual, involving snacks and well wishes from the entire agency.

As the dust settles and the smoke clears (which might take a while), SpaceX and its fiery adversary will need to reassess their approach. New materials? Better safety protocols? A smaller fireball feature? Only time will tell what innovations will emerge from this encounter. However, there’s one thing we can be sure of: stick around, and the next round of testing might be handing out marshmallows for s'mores.