Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Engine Test in Florida

Massive Fireball Engulfs Launch Complex During Pre-Launch Test

A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded Thursday night at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The blast created a spectacular fireball visible for miles around. The explosion occurred around 9 p.m. EDT during a critical engine test. Engineers were counting down to a brief test firing of the rocket’s seven methane-fueled BE-4 first stage engines.

The company owned by Jeff Bezos had been preparing for a June launch. The mission would carry a batch of Amazon Leo internet satellites into orbit. As the engines appeared to begin firing, something went catastrophically wrong at the rocket’s base. The 188-foot-tall first stage became enveloped in rapidly growing flames.

Moments later, the 86-foot-tall upper stage tilted and started to fall. The first stage appeared to collapse beneath it. The vehicle suddenly exploded as its load of methane fuel and liquid oxygen ignited. A roiling fireball sent billowing clouds of fire, smoke and flaming debris into the night sky.

Infrastructure Destroyed But No Casualties Reported

The rocket suffered complete destruction in the blast. As the smoke cleared, observers noted severe infrastructure damage. The erector-gantry used to move the New Glenn from its hangar to the pad vanished. This critical piece of equipment also raised the rocket from horizontal to vertical. One of two tall lightning towers disappeared from view as well.

“All personnel are accounted for and safe,” Bezos said in a social media post. “It’s too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it. Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it.”

Fortunately, the Amazon Leo satellites were not on board for the hot-fire test. All personnel were accounted for and no injuries occurred. The U.S. Space Force Eastern Range confirmed emergency responders arrived at the scene. Range officials coordinated with Blue Origin and appropriate partners to evaluate available data.

Nearby Residents Feel Impact of Explosion

Homes shook in nearby Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach around 9 p.m. Residents immediately turned to social media to wonder what happened. Launch Complex 36 sits visible from the beach. The internet quickly filled with photos of an orange fireball painting the night sky.

Emergency crews remained more than an hour after the explosion. Officials stressed there was no threat due to fumes or other potential hazards. Video from news helicopters captured multiple fires and apparently severe damage. Space Force officials confirmed the explosion would not affect upcoming launches by other companies from other pads.

Recent Challenges Compound Latest Setback

Blue Origin had received clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration to resume launches on Friday, May 22. The company grounded the massive New Glenn in April after it left a satellite in the wrong orbit. An engine failure caused the deviation. The mission marked only the third flight of the rocket.

During the New Glenn 3 mission, the rocket suffered an in-flight anomaly with its upper stage. The problem prevented it from placing AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird-7 satellite into the correct orbit. The FAA oversaw and accepted the findings of the Blue Origin-led investigation. The final mishap report identified the direct cause.

“The FAA oversaw and accepted the findings of the Blue Origin-led investigation. The final mishap report identified the direct cause of the mishap as a cryogenic leak that froze a hydraulic line and led to a thrust anomaly during the second stage engine burn,” the FAA said in a statement on May 27.

NASA Contracts and Artemis Program Implications

Blue Origin intends to use New Glenn to launch landers to the moon for NASA. These landers will take astronauts to the lunar surface. The company had been on track to launch a prototype lunar lander to the moon this fall. Earlier this week, the space agency awarded Blue Origin a contract for the Artemis program.

The contract involves launching a pair of moon buggies in the next few years. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman acknowledged the challenge facing the space industry. He promised to provide information on any impacts to the Artemis program. This includes the moon base that he recently outlined.

“Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said via X.

Amazon Satellite Constellation Faces Delays

The rocket was scheduled to blast off next week with internet satellites. These satellites form part of the Amazon Leo constellation in orbit. This launch was set to be the first of 24 launches that Amazon Leo booked on New Glenn rockets. The Amazon Leo satellites had not been transported to the launch site from its payload processing facility.

United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket remains on schedule to blast off Friday night. That mission will carry a batch of Amazon Leo satellites, the same kind that this rocket was supposed to deliver. Space Launch Delta 45 manages the Eastern Range. Officials confirmed they will continue to support operations at all other launch complexes.

Industry Support and Road Ahead

SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who has experienced his own share of rocket explosions, offered condolences. He expressed hope for a quick recovery. The company must now rebuild damaged infrastructure and investigate the failure thoroughly. Additional corrective actions will likely be required before flight resumption. The planned Amazon Leo satellite launch schedule faces significant delays.

The cause of the explosion will await a detailed analysis of telemetry and launch pad video. Blue Origin identified nine corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence of the previous event. The FAA will verify that Blue Origin implements corrective actions prior to resuming launches. Range officials continue evaluating available data to determine the exact cause of the anomaly.

Space Launch Delta 45 emphasized the inherent risks in space testing. The Eastern Range serves as a Department of Defense test and training range. It supports critical development, testing, evaluation and launch activities. These operations often involve developmental systems and emerging technologies. The nature of such testing carries inherent risk, including the potential for anomalies.