Blue Origin New Glenn rocket explodes at Cape Canaveral launch pad
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded during a hotfire test at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday night. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, and an investigation into the incident is underway.
A New Glenn rocket from Blue Origin exploded on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral in Florida around 9 p.m. ET during a scheduled hotfire test. Blue Origin confirmed that there were no injuries and stated, "We experienced an anomaly during today's hotfire test. All personnel have been accounted for. We will provide updates as we learn more."
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station echoed this information, confirming that all personnel were safe. The rocket was being prepared for a test firing ahead of a planned fourth mission on June 4 to launch 48 satellites for Amazon’s Leo internet service, which is in competition with Elon Musk's Starlink.
The satellites were not on board during the test. The extent of damage to the launch pad and surrounding equipment remains unclear, and the timeline for repairs has not been established. Space Launch Complex 36, where the incident occurred, is designated as the sole launch pad for New Glenn rockets.
The New Glenn rocket plays a crucial role in Blue Origin's and NASA's lunar plans, and the explosion represents a significant setback. The rocket is intended to launch a Blue Moon lander as part of NASA's Artemis III mission to low Earth orbit next year. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasized the challenges of spaceflight, stating, "We will work with our partners to support a thorough investigation of this anomaly, assess near-term mission impacts, and get back to launching rockets."
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) acknowledged the incident, clarifying that the test was not part of FAA licensed activities and confirmed it did not affect air traffic. Jeff Bezos remarked on social media that while it's early to determine the root cause, efforts to investigate and rebuild will commence promptly.
