“Just a Scratch”: Elon Musk Reacts to Massive Explosion of Starship During Launchpad Test
‘Major anomaly,’ indeed, but “Just a scratch,” according to SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
“On Wednesday, June 18 at approximately 11 p.m. CT, the Starship preparing for the tenth flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase. A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for. Our Starbase team is actively working to safe the test site and the immediate surrounding area in conjunction with local officials. There are no hazards to residents in surrounding communities, and we ask that individuals do not attempt to approach the area while safing operations continue.” SpaceX statement on Starship launchpad test explosion.
On Wednesday, June 18 at approximately 11 p.m. CT, the Starship preparing for the tenth flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase. A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted…
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 19, 2025
SpaceX Starship 36 exploded on the launch pad during a static fire test Wednesday night at Massey Outpost, Starbase, Texas. No one was reported injured in the spectacular fireball. This is the latest setback in Elon Musk’s ambitious plan to establish a human colony on Mars. Several recent Starship test flights have experienced flight ending explosions.
Video posted by LabPadre Space:
Full length video of Ship 36’s testing anomaly: pic.twitter.com/cbtIasAuf7
— LabPadre Space (@LabPadre) June 19, 2025
Compilation video with several viewpoints of the explosion posted by NASASpaceFlight, “While preparing for a 6-engine static fire test as part of its pre-flight test campaign, SpaceX’s Ship 36 experienced an anomaly, resulting in destruction of the vehicle and significant damage to the Massey’s rocket test site in Starbase, TX. The test site is approximately 5 miles away from the Starship production facility, and roughly 9 miles from the Brownsville city limits.”
Elon Musk reacted to the Starship explosion in several posts to X on Thursday:
Musk’s initial post just before 6 a.m. EDT was a stoic, “Just a scratch,” play on a well-known scene from the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Just a scratch
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 19, 2025
Almost an hour and a half later, Musk posted regarding a possible cause, “Preliminary data suggests that a nitrogen COPV in the payload bay failed below its proof pressure. If further investigation confirms that this is what happened, it is the first time ever for this design.”
Preliminary data suggests that a nitrogen COPV in the payload bay failed below its proof pressure.
If further investigation confirms that this is what happened, it is the first time ever for this design.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 19, 2025
Followed by a meme of Pepe with lighting a cigarette:
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 19, 2025
After several reposts and short replies, Musk reposted a meme of a man teared up over the Starship explosion:
RIP Ship 36 pic.twitter.com/xNiWRR5KJq
— Space Sudoer (@spacesudoer) June 19, 2025
The Monty Python Black Knight scene Musk referenced:
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