SpaceX Setback and Axiom Mission Delay: Double Blow for Space Ambitions in June 2025
🔴 Starship Explosion: A Major Setback for Elon Musk’s Mars Dream On June 18, 2025 , SpaceX faced a significant setback when its Starship prototype exploded during a routine engine test at Starbase, Texas , resulting in the complete destruction of the spacecraft and damage to the surrounding infrastructure. Starship is SpaceX’s ambitious two-stage super heavy-lift launch vehicle, designed to ferry humans to Mars — a critical element in Elon Musk’s long-term interplanetary vision . In a statement released on June 19 , SpaceX confirmed that a “major anomaly” occurred while the upper stage of Starship was being tested on the stand. Fortunately, no injuries were reported , and all personnel were safely evacuated. The company maintained a safety clear zone, and environmental impact assessments showed no chemical or toxic hazards to nearby communities. The Starship program , successor to Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, had already experienced multiple test failures in recent years. A proto...