Blue Origins New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Preparation

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Test in Florida

A test of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket ended in disaster on Thursday evening when the vehicle exploded on its launchpad in Florida. The incident occurred during a hot-fire test, where a rocket engine is fired up while anchored to the ground.

According to footage captured at the scene, smoke began to emerge from underneath the rocket before it erupted into a massive fireball that sent flames and smoke billowing into the air. Emergency crews remained on site for over an hour following the incident, but officials stated there was no threat posed by fumes or other hazards.

No injuries were reported in connection with the explosion. Blue Origin released a statement confirming the incident, stating that “an anomaly occurred during today’s hotfire test” and that all personnel had been accounted for.

US House Representative Mike Haridopolos has confirmed contact with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman regarding the incident. In a statement, Haridopolos expressed gratitude for the absence of reported injuries and thanked first responders, engineers, and launch crews for their swift action.

The New Glenn rocket was scheduled to launch 48 Amazon Leo satellites into low-Earth orbit as part of efforts to build a broadband constellation rivaling SpaceX’s Starlink network. The incident marks the latest setback for Blue Origin’s space venture, which has been competing with SpaceX in recent months.

Source: Al Jazeera