Blue Origin Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test in Florida

A dramatic explosion involving a Blue Origin rocket lit up the sky Thursday night during a test at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The incident happened around 9 p.m. Eastern Time during a hot fire test involving the company’s New Glenn rocket. Video from the scene showed a massive fireball and thick smoke erupting from the launch pad.

Blue Origin later released a statement on social media saying, “We experienced an anomaly during today’s hot fire test. All personnel have been accounted for.”

The explosion reportedly caused significant damage to the launch pad and nearby equipment, with repairs expected to take several months. The rocket had been scheduled to carry 48 satellites into low Earth orbit.

Jeff Bezos, the founder and owner of Blue Origin, said it is still too early to determine the exact cause of the explosion but confirmed the company has already begun investigating the incident.

Reports indicate the setback could also impact future NASA moon mission plans tied to the New Glenn program.