Email Elon Musk cannot seem to catch a break. One of Musk’s SpaceX Starships has 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. SpaceX said READ: SpaceX to send first high-speed internet satellite into space in 2019 (November 20, 2017) The explosion of SpaceX’s Starship 36 is a significant moment but not a major setback for the company or Musk. SpaceX has built its success on rapid prototyping and testing, where failures are expected and even welcomed as learning opportunities. Each launch, successful or not, provides critical data that helps refine design, engineering, and safety systems. While the public nature of such explosions can lead to scrutiny or concern, they also show SpaceX’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology. Musk has long championed a bold, risk-tolerant approach, and events like this reinforce his belief that innovation requires taking chances. For SpaceX, the bigger picture remains unchanged: advancing toward fully reusable rockets, and enabling human missions to Mars. With strong financial backing, government contracts, and a track record of rebounding from failure, Starship 36’s explosion is a bump on the road to long-term success.