Space X's super heavy rocket booster explodes during test

A booster rocket built by Elon Musk

's

SpaceX

company for its next-generation Starship spacecraft exploded in flames during a ground test in Texas on Monday.

This is a major setback for Elon Musk's plan to launch Starship into orbit next year.

Elon Musk tweeted after the Super Heavy Booster 7 prototype exploded, "Yeah...really not that good."

It was being broadcast on a livestream which was being recorded on NASA's website Spaceflight.

There were no reports of anyone getting injured immediately after this.   

Holy moly.

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

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

According to Reuters, 

it is not clear what caused the explosion.

Due to its flames, the base of the rocket turned into a ball of fire and the video camera was shaken by the rapidly emanating smoke.

Although the booster stood upright, now it will be tested later.  

The accident took place in Boca Chica, Texas, in the middle of several days of static fire tests.

This booster was a 33 Reptor engine which is going to be used in SpaceX's uncrewed orbital flight test later this year.  

SpaceX's entire Starship soars to 394 feet when it is combined with its super heavy first class booster.

This booster is the next generation launch vehicle of the company.

It is at the heart of Elon Musk's dream of making humans travel in space easily and continuously.

When asked about Monday's blast, SpaceX did not respond.  


The US Federal Aviation Administration also did not comment on whether it would investigate the blast.

In late 2020 and early 2021, four prototypes of SpaceX's Starship exploded in one successive high altitude test launch.

There were explosions in the return landing.

The Starship prototype finally touched the ground safely back in May 2021.