BLUE ORIGIN ROCKET EXPLODES IN FLORIDA! – New Glenn launch vehicle erupts during engine test in major setback for Bezos space programme
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded during a ground engine test at Cape Canaveral in Florida on Thursday night, dealing a major setback to Jeff Bezos’ space company as it tries to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Dramatic footage showed the giant rocket erupting into a massive fireball during a “hot-fire” engine test ahead of a planned satellite launch next week. Officials confirmed there were no injuries, with all personnel evacuated before the test began.
Blue Origin described the explosion as an “anomaly” and said investigations are now underway to determine what caused the failure. The New Glenn rocket had been expected to launch dozens of Amazon internet satellites as part of Bezos’ effort to rival SpaceX’s Starlink network. The explosion also raises concerns about delays to future NASA-linked missions, with New Glenn expected to play a growing role in lunar and heavy-lift space operations.
The incident is being seen as one of the most serious setbacks yet for Blue Origin’s long-running rocket programme. Analysts say the damage to the launch infrastructure could delay launches for months while investigators examine what went wrong. SpaceX chief Elon Musk reacted online by saying “rockets are hard”, while Bezos said the company would rebuild and continue testing despite what he called “a very rough day”.
