--- title: "SpaceX Starship Booster Prototype Suddenly Goes Up in Flames" description: "SpaceX's Booster 7 prototype just went up in a ball of flames during a routine test today, which could signal a potential setback." date: "2022-07-11" modified: "2022-07-11" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-starship-booster-explosion" categories: - "Space" - "SpaceX" - "Starship" tags: - "SpaceX" - "Starship" - "super heavy" - "the digest" --- # SpaceX Starship Booster Prototype Suddenly Goes Up in Flames ![]() *\Image: NASASpaceflight\* ## Uh Oh SpaceX's Booster 7 prototype just went up in a ball of flames during a routine test today, which could signal a setback — though, to be fair, there's a lot we still don't know about the incident. A livestream [captured by *NASASpaceFlight*]() shows the behemoth structure light up in a massive ball of fire and send small pieces of debris flying, surprising onlookers. It's unclear to what extent the Booster or launch tower were damaged during the explosion. A massive pressure wave also managed to shake *NASASpaceflight*'s camera, indicating the explosion was quite energetic. "Holy moly," [tweeted]() *NASASpaceFlight*'s Chris Bergin. "Well, that was unexpected!" SpaceX CEO Elon Musk [seemed to say on Twitter]() that the explosion was planned — although the *NASASpaceFlight* crew were pretty skeptical, and Musk has been known to shrug off setbacks. One more possible clue: the explosion happened at 4:20 local Texas time — the weed number that Musk [loves so much](). ## Planned Ignition But others weren't convinced the fireball was meant to happen. "I'm probably wrong, but surely ignition was not planned with those lifts right by the pad and such," *NASASpaceFlight*'s Michael Baylor [tweeted](). "Hydraulic power unit seems to be in trouble," Baylor added in [a follow-up](). "Smoke rising from it." "Oooop this might delay Starship's first orbital flight a smidge," *Reuters* space reporter Joey Roulette [tweeted]() in response. https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1546605684070006784 ## Going Orbital The massive rocket is designed to take SpaceX's Starship 20 prototype into orbit during the company's [long-awaited orbital test flight]() sometime this year. We have yet to hear about a concrete schedule for the launch, but given the substantial fireball, chances are SpaceX may have to delay it. **More on Starship:** *[Area Residents Express Dismay As SpaceX Looks Poised To Downgrade "Starbase" R&D Facility]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()