A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded Thursday night on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, around 9 p.m. ET. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries, and the company confirmed that all personnel were accounted for following the incident. In a statement, Blue Origin noted, “We experienced an anomaly during today’s hotfire test,” indicating that the explosion occurred during a predetermined engine test.
Cape Canaveral Space Force Station echoed this reassurance, confirming the safety of all personnel and stating that there had been no injuries or fatalities related to the event.
The explosion took place as Blue Origin was preparing to fuel the rocket for a planned test firing of its engines. The New Glenn rocket was slated for its fourth mission, aimed at delivering 48 satellites for Amazon’s LEO internet service, which competes with Elon Musk’s Starlink. At the time of the explosion, these satellites were not on board.
The extent of the damage to the launch pad and surrounding ground equipment remains undisclosed, and it is uncertain how long it might take to repair the launch facilities. Space Launch Complex 36, where the incident occurred, is currently the only launch pad prepared for the New Glenn rockets.
This rocket is pivotal to future space initiatives, especially in relation to Blue Origin’s collaboration with NASA for plans concerning a lunar base. The recent explosion poses a significant setback, particularly as the New Glenn rocket is scheduled to launch a Blue Moon lander as part of NASA’s Artemis III mission in low Earth orbit next year.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman also addressed the incident, acknowledging the challenges of spaceflight. He emphasized the importance of conducting a thorough investigation into the anomaly and assessing any near-term mission impacts, assuring that efforts would be made to resume rocket launches.
The New Glenn rocket had recently been cleared to return to flight after being grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) due to an anomaly during a previous launch in April. In response to Thursday’s explosion, the FAA confirmed awareness of the incident, clarifying that the static fire test was not part of FAA-licensed activities. They indicated that there was no impact on air traffic as a result of the explosion.
Jeff Bezos shared his thoughts on X, expressing determination to identify the root cause of the explosion and a commitment to rebuild as necessary. He described the day as “very rough” but assured that the company would work toward getting back to flight operations. Elon Musk also expressed his support with a message wishing for a swift recovery from the incident.
