Technology

Blue Origin rocket explodes during engine test at Cape Canaveral

Yesterday 07:02

By: Dakir Madiha

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A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded during an engine static fire test Thursday night at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, sending a massive fireball into the night sky and shaking nearby residential areas. No injuries were reported after the incident, which occurred around 9 p.m. at Launch Complex 36.

Residents in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach said they felt vibrations from the blast and quickly shared videos and images of the explosion across social media platforms. Blue Origin later confirmed the accident in a short statement, saying the company had experienced an anomaly during the engine firing test and that more information would be released as the investigation progresses.

Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos addressed the failure on X, stating that it was too early to determine the root cause of the explosion. He added that teams had already begun investigating the incident and pledged that the company would rebuild damaged systems and resume flights. The failed test marks another setback for Blue Origin as it attempts to expand the capabilities of the New Glenn heavy-lift rocket and compete more aggressively in the commercial launch market.

The rocket had been preparing for its fourth mission, known as NG-4, after receiving approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for a launch window beginning June 4. The mission was expected to carry 48 low Earth orbit broadband satellites for Amazon’s satellite internet network, previously known as Project Kuiper. The flight would have marked the first time Blue Origin launched satellites for Amazon, linking two major aerospace and technology ventures founded by Bezos.

Amazon previously signed a contract for 12 New Glenn launches, with options for up to 15 additional missions, to help deploy its planned constellation of 3,236 satellites. The satellite network is designed to compete with existing global broadband systems by delivering internet access through low Earth orbit infrastructure.

The latest explosion adds to a difficult period for the New Glenn program. On April 19, the rocket’s third mission failed to place an AST SpaceMobile satellite into its intended orbit after one of the upper-stage BE-3U engines underperformed during flight. That incident triggered a temporary grounding order and a federal investigation before launch approvals were restored in late May.

Emergency response teams remained at the launch complex for more than an hour after Thursday’s explosion. Authorities later confirmed there were no hazardous emissions or immediate risks to nearby communities. The full extent of the damage to launch infrastructure remains unclear, and Blue Origin has not provided a timeline for returning the New Glenn rocket to flight operations.