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SpaceX Booster Experiences “Anomaly” During Testing, No Injuries Reported
Boca Chica, TX – SpaceX, the ambitious aerospace company known for its reusable rockets and celestial aspirations, confirmed that its third-generation Super Heavy Booster, a crucial component of the Starship system, experienced an “anomaly” during pressure testing on Thursday morning.
In a statement posted on X, the company clarified, “Booster 18 suffered an anomaly during gas system pressure testing that we were conducting in advance of structural proof testing.” Thankfully, no propellant was present in the booster at the time, and the engines had not yet been installed.
SpaceX was quick to reassure the public that all personnel were maintained at a safe distance throughout the testing, and no injuries were reported. The company stated it will “need time to investigate before we are confident of the cause.”
While SpaceX content creators have shared clips showing the incident around 4 AM on Friday, it appears the explosive release of gas, or whatever the exact nature of the anomaly, resulted in a section of the bottom half of the booster being compromised.
This booster is part of the third generation of Starship, SpaceX’s colossal and fully reusable rocket designed to carry substantial payloads into space. Standing over 400 feet tall-taller than a 30-story building-and weighing 5,000 tons, Starship is a marvel of engineering.
Despite this recent setback, Starship has a respectable track record, boasting 11 successful launches. While this particular incident was described as “fairly benign,” previous tests have, at times, seen fiery debris descend from the sky.
SpaceX’s ultimate vision for Starship involves delivering payloads to both the Moon and Mars, pushing the boundaries of space exploration. The last iteration of the second-generation Starship was retired in October, following its inaugural flight in August.
SpaceX has made significant strides in the space launch industry. Since 2024, the company has been responsible for launching 86 percent of the global payload mass sent to space, even as competitors like China invest heavily in their own space programs.
The cost of launching payloads into space has seen a dramatic reduction, with a 95 percent decrease in cost per kilogram compared to the space shuttle era. Notably, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket costs 20 times less per kilogram to launch than NASA’s historic space shuttle.