A Blue Origin rocket exploded on the launchpad during testing on Thursday night.
A video posted on X by Spaceflight Now, a spaceflight online media outlet, captured the moment the New Glenn rocket erupted into a massive fireball, sending flames and thick smoke billowing into the air.
The explosion occurred around 9 p.m. ET during a test, per Spaceflight Now.
“We experienced an anomaly during today’s hotfire test. All personnel have been accounted for. We will provide updates as we learn more,” Blue Origin said in a statement uploaded to X.
The rocket had been set to carry 48 satellites for Amazon’s Leo internet service, though the satellites were not onboard during the explosion, per The New York Times.
“It’s too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it,” Jeff Bezos wrote on X. “Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it.”
NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said that the space agency is “aware of the anomaly” that occurred at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station involving the Blue Origin rocket.
“Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult. We will work with our partners to support a thorough investigation of this anomaly, assess near-term mission impacts, and get back to launching rockets. We will provide information on any impacts to the Artemis and Moon Base programs as it becomes available,” he wrote in a statement on X.
This story is developing. Please check back later for updates.
