CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A Blue Origin rocket exploded during a test at the launch pad on Thursday night, causing nearby homes to shake and briefly illuminating the sky with a bright orange hue.
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin reported that the New Glenn rocket erupted during an engine-firing test. Officials at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station confirmed that there were no injuries.
“It’s too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it,” Bezos said via X. “Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it.”
Emergency crews were present for more than an hour afterward, but officials indicated there was no threat from fumes or other hazards.
The massive New Glenn was grounded in April after it placed a satellite in the incorrect orbit due to engine failure. This was only the third flight for the rocket, which Blue Origin aims to use for launching lunar landers for NASA.
Residents of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach felt their homes shake around 9 p.m., leading them to social media to inquire about the incident. The internet quickly became populated with images of an orange fireball, visible from Launch Complex 36 on the beach.
“We experienced an anomaly during today’s hotfire test,” Blue Origin stated briefly. “We will provide updates as we learn more.”
The rocket was scheduled to launch the following week carrying internet satellites as part of the Amazon LEO constellation project.
Standing at 321 feet (98 meters), the New Glenn made its debut in 2025. Named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, it surpasses the New Shepard rockets in size and power, which have taken tourists to the edge of space from Texas.
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