SpaceX’s Starship Explosion Raises Concerns Ahead of Axiom-4 Mission with Indian Astronaut
Elon Musk’s SpaceX, a global leader in commercial spaceflight, is facing renewed scrutiny after the explosion of its next-generation Starship rocket during a routine ground test at its Texas facility. The incident, which occurred late on June 18, has sparked concern just days ahead of the highly anticipated Axiom-4 mission set to carry Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard a different rocket—the Falcon 9.
The explosion, captured on video by independent observers, showed a massive fireball engulfing the test pad at SpaceX’s Starbase site. SpaceX confirmed the “major anomaly” in a brief statement, assuring that all safety protocols were followed and that no personnel were harmed. However, the company has yet to provide detailed insights into the cause or extent of the damage. Starship, billed as the world’s most powerful rocket, is a fully reusable launch system designed for deep space missions including Mars colonization.
While this failed test does not directly involve the Falcon 9 rocket set to launch Axiom-4, the incident has intensified concerns over SpaceX’s engineering culture, particularly its “fail fast, learn fast” approach. This philosophy has powered rapid development but also led to high-profile failures, especially with the still-evolving Starship program, which has now seen five failures in nine test flights—three of them in 2025 alone.
In a separate development, the upcoming Axiom-4 mission has faced multiple delays since its original launch target of May 29. Group Captain Shukla, representing India in a historic collaboration between ISRO and NASA, is now expected to launch no earlier than June 22 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The rocket assigned to this mission is the Falcon 9, a highly reliable SpaceX vehicle with a 99.6% success rate across nearly 500 launches, including 10 successful human spaceflights.
However, even the Falcon 9 has not been free of issues. A recent report of a liquid oxygen (LOX) leak on the rocket prompted insistence from Indian scientists—led by ISRO Chairman Dr. V Narayanan—on comprehensive repairs and validation before proceeding. SpaceX complied, and ISRO later confirmed the issue had been resolved. Nevertheless, the incident, coupled with the Starship explosion, adds layers of tension as launch day approaches.
Experts in aerospace and rocket science continue to debate the safety implications of SpaceX’s practices. While most agree that test failures are intrinsic to rocket development, some raise flags about operational oversight. One American aerospace expert cited the need to distinguish between test-stage experimentation and routine operations that the world now depends on. He noted that the FAA, learning from past failures in aviation oversight, must evolve its supervision standards for increasingly critical and frequent human spaceflights.
This latest mishap comes at a time of strengthening ties between India and SpaceX. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia recently held meetings with SpaceX President & COO Gwynne Shotwell, discussing satellite communication collaborations to boost India’s digital infrastructure. Shotwell praised India’s licensing approval for Starlink, calling it a “great start to the journey.” She also engaged with Indian space startups and the regulatory body IN-SPACe, though it remains unclear if the Falcon 9 safety delays were discussed in detail.
Notably, while India’s space program has experienced rocket failures in the past, none have resulted in on-pad explosions, reinforcing the Indian space community’s core philosophy: “Safety first, safety always.” The emphasis on crew safety by ISRO and Indian government officials remains steadfast. Science Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh confirmed that all key parameters—including module fitness, crew health, and weather—are being closely monitored, with Axiom Space tentatively targeting June 22 for the launch.
The contrast between SpaceX’s bold risk tolerance and India’s conservative safety ethos highlights different approaches in the high-stakes domain of human spaceflight. With the Falcon 9’s track record and the added oversight from ISRO, stakeholders are optimistic that the Axiom-4 mission will proceed safely. Still, the timing of the Starship explosion cannot be ignored, and it casts a shadow that demands clarity, accountability, and continued diligence.
As India edges closer to its first private astronaut launch into space, all eyes are on SpaceX’s ability to reassure international partners and the public of its commitment to safety—not just in exploration, but in execution. The next few days will be critical, not just for the success of Axiom-4, but for SpaceX’s credibility at a time when its ambitions stretch beyond Earth’s orbit.