What happened to the SpaceX Starship V3 booster?

The upgraded Starship V3 booster exploded during early testing in South Texas, even before its rocket engines were installed.

When did the Starship V3 booster explosion occur?

The explosion happened in the pre-dawn hours of Friday, around 4:00 a.m. local time, shortly after its rollout for testing.

How might the Starship explosion affect SpaceX's mission to the Moon?

The incident could delay SpaceX's testing program, potentially jeopardizing its 2026 goals and the 2028 target for crewed lunar missions.

Home / Technology / SpaceX Starship Booster Explodes During Early Testing

SpaceX Starship Booster Explodes During Early Testing

21 Nov

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Summary

An upgraded Starship V3 booster exploded in South Texas.
The booster had not yet installed its rocket engines.
This incident could delay SpaceX's lunar and Mars mission plans.

SpaceX Starship Booster Explodes During Early Testing

An upgraded SpaceX Starship booster, designated V3, experienced a significant explosion in South Texas early Friday morning. The incident happened during the initial testing phase, with the booster not yet equipped with rocket engines. Live streams captured the event around 4:00 a.m. local time, revealing damage to an entire side of the booster's lower section.

This V3 booster represents a crucial advancement, intended to be larger, more powerful, and capable of in-orbit docking, essential for SpaceX's lunar and Martian ambitions. The company's final V2 design flew in October, highlighting the rapid development pace. SpaceX and Elon Musk have not yet commented on the failure.

Any significant disruption to the testing schedule could jeopardize SpaceX's crucial 2026 goals, including orbital fuel transfer demonstrations required by NASA for crewed lunar missions targeted for 2028. This setback occurs amid increasing pressure from NASA and competition from Blue Origin.