All of SpaceX’s Texas operations — including the explosion during Wednesday’s engine test — take place at the company’s Starbase facility in Boca Chica, a beachside community near Brownsville. The site sits along the Gulf of America, about 20 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.

SpaceX's Starship exploded in a fiery blaze during a routine engine test in Texas – raising questions about what's next for Elon Musk's company.

SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft exploded ahead of an engine test late Wednesday, sending a large fireball into the South Texas sky and dealing another major setback to Elon Musk’s company. It was the fourth time the company has lost a Starship spacecraft this year. In three previous test flights, the vehicle came apart or detonated during its flight.