Another SpaceX rocket explodes in new setback to Elon Musk’s Mars project

Starship 36 was preparing for 10th test flight from Texas when it suffered ‘catastrophic failure’ while on stand

One of Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starships exploded during a routine test in Texas, authorities said, in the latest setback to the billionaire’s dream of turning humanity into an interplanetary species.

The Starship 36 suffered “catastrophic failure and exploded” at the Starbase launch facility shortly after 11pm on Wednesday (0400 GMT Thursday), a Facebook post by the Cameron County authorities said.