On September 1, 2016, SpaceX's static fire test escalated into disaster when its Falcon 9 rocket exploded shortly before ignition. The event shocked engineers and marked SpaceX's second failure in over a year, putting pressure on the company's partnership with NASA. John Muratore, the launch director, recounted the terrifying explosion that felt unreal in its intensity. This incident underlined the vulnerability of SpaceX, then a company valued far less than today, highlighting significant risks in the commercial space launch sector at the time.
"It came out of nowhere, and it was really violent. I swear, that explosion must have taken an hour. It felt like an hour."
"The second stage exploded in this huge ball of fire, and then the payload kind of teetered on top of the transporter erector."
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