A spacex rocket exploded this week as it failed a pressure test, in a blow to Elon Musk's plans to create a future where humans can set up home on Mars.

The prototype of SpaceX's next-generation Starship rocket failed to contain its liquid nitrogen during its latest phase of testing on Friday night at the company's launch site in Boca Chica, Texas.

Footage captured by a Boca Chica resident shows the spaceship, known as SN1, exploding, sending the stainless steel cylinder flying off its stand and crashing.

Although the rocket was not supposed to take off, this is the second time one of Musk's SN1s has exploded, with the first occurring in November last year during a cryogenic pressure test.

This latest disappointment hit the project at around 10pm Friday, according to Florida Today.

A SpaceX rocket exploded this week as it failed a pressure test, in a blow to Elon Musk's plans to create a future where humans can set up home on Mars

The prototype of SpaceX's next-generation Starship rocket failed to take off during its latest phase of testing on Friday night at the company's launch site in Boca Chica, Texas

Footage captured by a Boca Chica resident shows the spaceship, known as SN1, exploding, sending the stainless steel cylinder flying off its stand and crashing

The pressurization test didn't quite go as planned as the prototype failed to contain the liquid nitrogen.

On Saturday, the remains of the rocket could be seen with the metal structure lying mangled at the site.

The prototype had been scheduled to take a short sub-orbital flight.

This no doubt poses a setback to Musk as he battles to win the space race against fellow entrepreneurs, such as Jeff Bezos who set up rocket startup Blue Origin in 2000.

The disappointing result took place during the latest testing round on the rocket at around 10pm Friday

The pressurization test didn't quite go as planned

The prototype failed to contain the liquid nitrogen and was seen exploding

The rivalry heated up in 2019 when Bezos reportedly hired SpaceX's former vice president of satellites Rajeev Badyal.

Though SpaceX's latest testing stage fell short, just last month Musk's mission to send people to space proved more positive.

In January, SpaceX successfully launched an emergency abort system test above Cape Canaveral and into the Atlantic Ocean.

On Saturday, the remains of the rocket could be seen with the metal structure lying mangled at the site

The prototype had been scheduled to take a short sub-orbital flight

Its remains are seen the next morning lying near the site

This no doubt poses a setback to Musk as he battles to win the space race against fellow entrepreneurs, such as Jeff Bezos who set up rocket startup Blue Origin in 2000

A Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Kennedy Space Center at normal procedure, but just one minute into flight the Dragon Crew capsule's engines ignited and sent it flying away from the booster.

Thrusters on the capsule propelled it out of harm's way just before the rocket engines deliberately shut down and the booster was destroyed in a fiery explosion.

The capsule reached a promising 27 miles before parachuting into the ocean just offshore of the Florida Space Coast, marking the nine-minute test flight as triumphant.

The Starship is part of Musk's plans to put people on Mars, with his ultimate goal to enable humans to live on other planets.

'Starship will look like liquid silver,' Musk said of his brainchild in late 2018.