Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship booster explodes at launch site during ground test

Billionaire Elon Musk’s plans to send humans to Mars have been dealt a blow after an explosion rocked the site during testing.

Elon Musk’s plans to send humans to colonise Mars have been dealt a blow after an explosion rocked the site during testing.

Video captured a component of the Tesla billionaire’s SpaceX Starship appearing to explode at a launch facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

The spacecraft engineering company is prepping the rocket for its first orbital launch, which Musk had hoped to be ready for this month.

NASA Spaceflight was livestreaming when the explosion happened. “Wow!” shocked commentators were heard saying multiple times.

Holy moly. Well, that was unexpected!https://t.co/dUUqw7ojRvpic.twitter.com/7IGztPuE12

— Chris Bergin - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) July 11, 2022

Responding to the video on Twitter, Musk said: “Yeah, actually not good. Team is assessing damage”.

He reportedly told another user that “booster engine testing” was being done after it was questioned whether the firing was intentional. That tweet has since been deleted.

The explosion happened around 4.20pm local time.

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Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship booster appears to explode at Starbase launch site. Picture: NASA Spaceflight

There is speculation the incident will hold up the landmark orbital test flight of the Starship. Picture: NASA Spaceflight

SpaceX is currently testing Super Heavy Booster 7 at Starbase, the company’s launch site in Boca Chica, Texas.

Space.com explained the Starship system includes the Super Heavy and a 50 metre tall upper-stage spacecraft called Starship.

According to the SpaceX website, Starship is “a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry both crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond”.

Last month, Musk said the Starship would be “ready to fly” by July.

“We will have a second Starship stack ready to fly in August and then monthly thereafter,” he wrote on Twitter.

There is speculation that the explosion will hold up the landmark orbital test flight.

There have already been multiple delays in making the orbital test happen.

The Starship has had high-altitude flight tests but is yet to reach space.

Musk’s long-term goal is to use the Starship to actually land humans on Mars.

In a Tweet last month, Musk confirmed his plan was to “build 1000+ Starships to transport life to Mars. Basically, (very) modern Noah’s Arks.”

He made the same statement in a recent interview where he said the goal of sending one million people to create a colony would be achieved by 2050.

He did warn that life on Mars at the beginning would “not be luxurious” and would be hard work, but still “glorious”.