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Blue Origin Rocket Explodes on Launch Pad
29 May
Summary
- Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during a Thursday night test.
- The anomaly occurred at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
- No injuries were reported, but repairs may cause delays.
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded on Thursday night at Cape Canaveral, Florida, during a hotfire test of its engines. The incident, which occurred around 9 p.m. ET, resulted in no reported injuries. Blue Origin confirmed an anomaly and stated that all personnel were safe.
This explosion impacts Space Launch Complex 36, the sole launch pad for New Glenn rockets. The rocket was being prepared for a June 4 mission to deploy 48 satellites for Amazon's Leo internet service. The satellites were not on board during the test. It remains unclear how extensive the damage to the launch pad and ground equipment is or how long repairs will take.
The New Glenn rocket is crucial for Blue Origin's and NASA's lunar ambitions, including future Artemis missions. The rocket had only recently been cleared to return to flight by the FAA after a previous anomaly in April. The FAA stated the static fire test was not within its licensed activities and confirmed no impact to air traffic. NASA Administrator expressed support for a thorough investigation to assess mission impacts.
