A Blue Origin rocket exploded during a test at the launch pad Thursday night, shaking nearby homes and briefly painting the sky orange. The incident occurred at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, according to officials.
Details of the Explosion
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin confirmed that its New Glenn rocket exploded during an engine-firing test. No injuries were reported, and emergency crews remained on site for over an hour. Officials stated there was no threat from fumes or other hazards.
Bezos commented on social media, saying, "It's too early to know the root cause but we're already working to find it. Very rough day, but we'll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It's worth it."
Previous Issues
The massive New Glenn rocket had been grounded since April after a satellite was left in the wrong orbit due to an engine failure. This was only the third flight of the rocket, which Blue Origin intends to use for NASA lunar lander missions.
Residents in nearby Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach felt their homes shake around 9 p.m. and turned to social media to share their experiences. Launch Complex 36, visible from the beach, was the site of the explosion, and photos of an orange fireball quickly circulated online.
Company Statement
Blue Origin released a brief statement: "We experienced an anomaly during today's hotfire test. We will provide updates as we learn more." The rocket had been scheduled to launch next week with internet satellites for Amazon's LEO constellation.
Towering at 321 feet (98 meters), New Glenn made its debut in 2025. Named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, it is significantly larger and more powerful than the New Shepard rockets used for tourist flights from Texas.
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