A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded in a massive fireball during a hot-fire test on Thursday night at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. EDT, sending towering flames and thick smoke into the sky and shaking nearby homes. Blue Origin described the event as an anomaly, and the company confirmed that all personnel have been accounted for and no injuries were reported.
The explosion destroyed the 29-story heavy-lift vehicle and critical launch pad infrastructure. The New Glenn rocket, which features a reusable first stage, was scheduled for a launch next week to carry 48 Amazon.com Inc. Leo satellites into low-Earth orbit. These satellites are part of an internet constellation designed to provide connectivity in remote areas.
This incident marks a significant setback for Jeff Bezos’s space venture as it attempts to narrow the gap with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its Falcon and Starship fleets. Bezos acknowledged it was a very rough day but stated the company will rebuild, find the cause of the explosion, and continue testing. The loss may have long-term implications for the company's ambitions regarding commercial spaceflight and lunar missions.