SpaceX’s Starship encountered yet another “rapid unscheduled disassembly,” culminating in a significant explosion on Wednesday night. The vehicle did not manage to launch this time either.

The considerable explosion occurred at SpaceX’s Starbase launch facility in Brownsville, Texas, during the second routine static fire test of Starship 36. These tests include fueling the vehicle and momentarily igniting its engines without liftoff.

Regrettably, this test did not unfold as intended, with the unmanned Starship 36 engulfed in flames shortly after 11:00 p.m. local time (9:00 p.m. PDT / Friday, 12:00 a.m. EDT). No injuries have been reported, and local law enforcement has initiated an investigation to determine the explosion’s cause.

The explosion and its consequences were broadcast live by NASASpaceflight, with the Starship’s failure washing the screen in white.

“So regarding those launch dates, I believe this might push them back a bit,” remarked Sawyer Rosenstein, a commentator for NASASpaceflight, mere seconds after the explosion.

Starship 36 was slated for SpaceX’s tenth Starship test flight, although no launch date has been established. In light of Wednesday’s incident, SpaceX may postpone its plans.

SpaceX’s official X account recognized the occurrence, affirming that no personnel were harmed.

“On Wednesday, June 18 at about 11 p.m. CT, the Starship set for the tenth flight test encountered a significant anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase,” stated SpaceX. “A safety clearance zone around the site was upheld throughout the operation, ensuring all personnel are safe and accounted for.

“Our Starbase team is diligently working to secure the test location and surrounding area in collaboration with local officials. There are no risks to nearby residents, and we request that individuals refrain from approaching the site during ongoing operations.”

The loss of Starship 36 is likely an undesirable setback for SpaceX. The company’s ninth Starship test flight ended with an unplanned explosion last month, marking its third consecutive flight to result in an explosion. While failures present opportunities for learning, they certainly come with significant costs.