Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Explodes on Its Florida Pad in Test Firing

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded on its launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday evening during a test firing of its engines, according to Al Jazeera and Newsweek. No injuries were reported, and the company said all personnel were accounted for. Newsweek, citing Space Launch Delta 45, reported that there were no injuries or fatalities.

The explosion happened at about 9 p.m. at Space Launch Complex 36 during a hot-fire test, in which engines are fired while the rocket is held to the ground, Newsweek reported. Video showed smoke from beneath the rocket before a large fireball rose into the sky, Al Jazeera reported. Blue Origin said the rocket “experienced an anomaly” during the test and that it would provide updates as it learns more, according to NBC News. The blast shook homes in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, NBC News reported, and Newsweek said it lit up the sky across central Florida. A Fox 35 meteorologist, Noah Bergren, called it “one of the largest rocket explosions on record,” Newsweek reported.

Officials said there was no threat to the public from fumes or other hazards, and emergency crews remained at the site more than an hour afterward, Al Jazeera and Newsweek reported. The Federal Aviation Administration said the test was outside its licensed launch activities and did not affect air traffic, Newsweek reported. Range officials and Space Force personnel are working with Blue Origin to determine the cause, according to Newsweek.

The rocket, 97 meters (321 feet) tall, carried no satellites, Newsweek reported. It had been expected to launch as soon as next week, Newsweek said, and Al Jazeera reported Blue Origin was preparing it to launch 48 Amazon Leo satellites, part of a broadband constellation meant to rival Starlink. Newsweek said Launch Complex 36 is the only pad used for New Glenn and was likely significantly damaged, making delays probable, and officials have not said how long the disruption will last. Newsweek said New Glenn was grounded in April after an engine failure left a satellite in the wrong orbit; Al Jazeera said the rocket failed last month to put a communications satellite in the correct orbit.

Founder Jeff Bezos wrote on X in a post at 3:13 a.m. Eastern time that it was “too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it,” and promised to rebuild and return to flight, Newsweek reported. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said, “Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult,” and that NASA will support the investigation and announce any effects on its Artemis and Moon Base programs, Newsweek reported. Elon Musk, whose SpaceX is a competitor, responded on X: “Most unfortunate. Rockets are hard,” Al Jazeera reported. Florida Rep. Mike Haridopolos said he had been in contact with Mr. Isaacman, according to Al Jazeera.

The cause of Thursday’s explosion has not been determined, and range officials said they would work with Blue Origin to find it, Newsweek reported.