# Ship 36

> SpaceX Starship spacecraft lost due to a vehicle malfunction during static engine testing

**Wikidata**: [Q134592557](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q134592557)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ship-36

## Summary
Ship 36 (also known as S36) was a SpaceX Starship spacecraft intended for use in the company's super heavy-lift reusable launch vehicle program. The vehicle was destroyed on June 18, 2025, at 23:01 Central Daylight Time due to a malfunction during static engine testing at the Starbase Test Site. It is classified as a former entity following its loss.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Starship-class spacecraft (super heavy-lift reusable launch vehicle).
- **Operator & Manufacturer:** SpaceX.
- **Country of Origin:** United States.
- **Serial Number:** 36.
- **Fate:** Lost on June 18, 2025, due to a vehicle malfunction (explosion) during static engine testing.
- **Incident Time:** 23:01 Central Daylight Time (UTC−05:00).
- **Incident Location:** Starbase Test Site.
- **Preceded By:** Ship 35.
- **Followed By:** Ship 37.
- **Aliases:** Starship Ship 36, Starship 36, S36.

## FAQs
### Q: What caused the loss of Ship 36?
A: Ship 36 was lost due to a vehicle malfunction that occurred during a static engine test. This resulted in an explosion at the test site.

### Q: When did the incident involving Ship 36 occur?
A: The explosion occurred on June 18, 2025, at 11:01 PM Central Daylight Time.

### Q: What was Ship 36's role in the Starship program?
A: Ship 36 was a spacecraft in the Starship class, designed as a reusable launch vehicle. It was part of the sequential manufacturing and testing line, succeeding Ship 35 and preceding Ship 37.

### Q: Where did the testing of Ship 36 take place?
A: The testing and subsequent loss of the vehicle took place at the Starbase Test Site.

## Why It Matters
Ship 36 represents a critical data point in the iterative development strategy of SpaceX's Starship program. As a test article in a high-paced manufacturing chain—situated between Ship 35 and Ship 37—its destruction highlights the inherent risks and challenges of developing reusable heavy-lift launch vehicles. The loss during a static fire, rather than an in-flight trajectory, provides specific engineering data regarding ground operations and propellant management.

While the loss of the vehicle is a setback, the rapid succession of ships (35, 36, 37) illustrates SpaceX's approach to rapid prototyping and "fail fast" learning. The incident underscores the volatility of testing next-generation rocket engines and the stringent safety measures required at facilities like Starbase. The event contributes to the broader engineering knowledge base required to achieve a fully reusable orbital launch system.

## Notable For
- **Static Test Failure:** Unlike some Starship prototypes lost during flight or landing attempts, Ship 36 was lost during a ground-based static engine test.
- **Specific Chronology:** It serves as a specific milestone in the 2025 Starship development timeline.
- **Classification:** It is officially categorized as a "former entity" due to its destruction.
- **Rapid Succession:** Its existence highlights the continuous production flow of Starship vehicles, immediately following Ship 35 and preceding Ship 37.

## Body

### Overview
Ship 36 was a spacecraft manufactured and operated by SpaceX in the United States. It belonged to the Starship class of vehicles, designed as a super heavy-lift reusable launch vehicle. The program inception for the Starship class traces back to 2005.

### Operational History
The vehicle was assigned the serial number 36, following Ship 35. Its operational life was short-lived, culminating in a significant event before it could undertake a flight mission.

### Loss of Vehicle
On June 18, 2025, Ship 36 suffered a catastrophic failure. The incident occurred at 23:01 Central Daylight Time at the Starbase Test Site.
- **Event:** Explosion.
- **Cause:** Vehicle malfunction during static engine testing.
- **Outcome:** The spacecraft was completely lost, leading to its classification as a "former entity" by June 19, 2025.

### Sequence and Legacy
Ship 36 is part of a continuous line of developmental Starship prototypes. It was immediately preceded by Ship 35 and immediately followed by Ship 37. Documentation regarding the vehicle has been archived in SpaceX updates, specifically referenced in "Flight 9 Report" and "Starship Static Fire Update" sections.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Ship 36",
  "description": "SpaceX Starship spacecraft lost due to a vehicle malfunction during static engine testing on June 18, 2025.",
  "url": "https://www.spacex.com/updates#starship-static-fire-update",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:SpaceX_Starship_S36"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Vehicle"
}

## References

1. [2025](https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/06/19/next-starship-explodes-on-test-stand/)
2. [Source](https://www.youtube.com/live/WKwWclAKYa0?t=6990s)