Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during a hot-fire test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Thursday night. The explosion occurred at approximately 9 p.m. EDT, sending a massive fireball, towering flames, and thick smoke into the night sky that shook nearby homes. The company described the incident as an anomaly.
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 as part of an internet constellation designed to provide connectivity in remote areas. Blue Origin confirmed that all personnel have been accounted for and no injuries were reported.
This incident represents a major setback for Jeff Bezos's space venture as it seeks to narrow the gap with Elon Musk's SpaceX and its Falcon and Starship fleets. Bezos acknowledged it was a very rough day, but vowed that the company will rebuild, find the cause of the explosion, and continue testing.