Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket explodes on launch pad

A Blue Origin rocket burst into flames during a hot-fire test at the launch pad, with all personnel accounted for. Visuals showed the rocket exploding in a fireball while the engine was fired while anchored to the ground. Jeff Bezos said the company had begun investigating and that the root cause was not yet known, but rebuilding would follow to resume flight. Blue Origin has invested billions in developing New Glenn, a reusable 29-story rocket intended to compete with SpaceX’s Falcon and Starship. The FAA previously ordered Blue Origin to investigate a second-stage failure. NASA said it was aware of the anomaly and would work with partners to investigate, assess near-term mission impacts, and provide information on effects to Artemis and Moon Base programs.

"A rocket belonging to Jeff Bezos' space company burst into flames during a test at the launch pad on Thursday night. In a post on X, Blue Origin said all personnel were accounted for. "We will provide updates as we learn more," it added. Visuals on social media showed the rocket exploding in a fireball. A hot-fire test involves firing up a rocket engine while it is anchored to the ground."

"Bezos vows to get back to flying Blue Origin's owner, Jeff Bezos, said that the company has already begun investigating the cause of the explosion. "It's too early to know the root cause but we're already working to find it," Bezos wrote on X. "Very rough day, but we'll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It's worth it.""

"Blue Origin has invested billions of dollars over the past decade in developing New Glenn, a 29-story rocket with a reusable first stage. It is intended to compete with SpaceX's Falcon fleet and its more powerful Starship. In April, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered Blue Origin to investigate the failure of the second stage of its massive New Glenn rocket."

"NASA will support probe NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said that his agency was aware of the New Glenn's "anomaly." "Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult," he wrote on X. "We will work with our partners to support a thorough investigation of this anomaly, assess near-term mission impacts, and get back to launching rockets," he added. According to Isaacman, NASA will provide information on any impacts to the Artemis and Moon Base programs as it becomes available."

Read at www.dw.com