Cape canaveral: A Blue Origin "New Glenn" heavy-lift rocket exploded today during a ground test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
According to Qatar News Agency, a live broadcast showed an explosion and a large fireball during what is known as a "hot ignition" test, in which the rocket's engine is ignited while it is still grounded. Blue Origin stated in a post on the social media platform X that they experienced an anomaly during today's hot ignition test, noting that all personnel have been accounted for. The company promised to provide updates as more information becomes available.
Blue Origin is preparing for the fourth launch of the New Glenn rocket, which was intended to carry Amazon Leo internet satellites into space in the coming weeks. The third New Glenn mission launched on April 19, carrying the Blue Bird 7 satellite, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Blue Origin is one of the companies working on developing space launch capabilities and rocket reuse, as part of a strategy aimed at supporting future space missions, including projects related to NASA's Artemis program, which aims to pave the way for a human landing on the moon in the coming years.