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After SpaceX's upper-stage Starship spacecraft, due to fly on Flight 10 later this month, exploded at the test stand last week, footage from the site shows extensive damage to the test stand and the rocket. SpaceX has continued to struggle with the upper stage ship, a second-generation design that has yet to fully complete a flight test. Images of the ship and the stand were shared on social media by a user who captured them while on a boat tour.
SpaceX's Upper Stage Starship Captured In First Image After Last Week's Explosion
SpaceX's Starship explosion last week came as a surprise as a Starship rocket had not experienced a major ground anomaly since last year. The explosion, which lit up the night sky due to the rocket being full of fuel, was due to a faulty secondary tank in the rocket's upper region. This tank stabilizes the pressure within the ship to ensure it can withstand atmospheric pressure and forces during its launch.
Ahead of the explosion, an FAA notice had indicated that Starship Flight 10 could occur by the end of this month. Had this been the case, then SpaceX would have picked up its testing pace after it took a two month break between Starship Flight 8 and Flight 9. Starship Flight 9 saw a marked improvement over Flight 8 when it came to the troubled second generation upper stage spacecraft.
While the ship failed to turn off its engines during Flights 7 and 8, it managed to turn them off and cruise during Flight 9. However, the latter half of its test was a failure as SpaceX was unable to control the ship during reentry.
A section of Starship 36 wreckage at Massey's test site today after the major anomaly during testing.
6/25/25
Special thanks to Keith at Raptor Roost Starship launch viewing for the Rio Grande river boat tour: https://t.co/JqszdABfeC pic.twitter.com/czgkaId5x2
— Starship Gazer (@StarshipGazer) June 26, 2025
Now, a week after the explosion, fresh images on social media show the ill-fated upper stage ship and the test stand. The image of the ship shows it deformed, with its paint burned off by the fire. However, several of the ship's heat shield tiles are still attached, showing the image of its forward or upper portion. A potential Starlink kit covered by the heat shield tiles is also visible at the bottom of the image.
Along with the upper stage ship, SpaceX's ground testing facilities also suffered extensive damage after the explosion. A close-up image of the test stand shows that it also experienced significant damage while maintaining its overall shape.
While SpaceX can recover quickly after losing its ship since the Starship program relies on being hardware-rich, damage to the test facilities might prove to be harder to overcome. Before it built the dedicated ground testing facilities, which were damaged last week, SpaceX tested its upper-stage ships close to the launch pad.
However, the testing stands were decommissioned after the new facilities were built. SpaceX hasn't shared additional details about Starship Flight 10, and footage from local media shows that the firm is rebuilding its ground testing facilities after last week's explosion.
A close look at what remains of the Starship static fire test stand at Massey's test site today after Starship 36 exploded during testing.
6/25/25
Special thanks to Keith at Raptor Roost Starship launch viewing for the Rio Grande river boat tour: https://t.co/4iebj0fO7o pic.twitter.com/0uGqwxuJl6
— Starship Gazer (@StarshipGazer) June 26, 2025
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