A rocket developed by Blue Origin exploded during a ground test at a Florida launch facility on Thursday night, sending a massive fireball into the sky and rattling nearby communities ahead of a planned satellite mission.
The explosion involved the company`s New Glenn rocket while engineers were conducting engine tests at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Despite the dramatic blast, officials confirmed that no injuries were reported.
Witnesses in nearby areas, including Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, said they felt the shockwave shortly after 9 p.m.
Many residents shared images online showing a bright orange fireball rising above the launch site.
Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos said it was too early to determine what caused the incident.
He said the company would conduct a full investigation and work to recover from the setback.
The explosion comes just months after the New Glenn rocket experienced technical difficulties during a mission in April, when an engine issue reportedly resulted in a satellite being placed into an incorrect orbit.
The latest test was linked to preparations for another satellite launch scheduled for next week.
New Glenn is central to Blue Origin’s future space ambitions, including planned lunar missions and support for NASA`s Artemis programme.
Earlier this week, NASA awarded the company a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars to deliver two lunar rovers for upcoming Moon exploration efforts.
Jared Isaacman acknowledged the challenges involved in space exploration and said further information would be provided once the impact on future lunar missions becomes clearer.
Emergency crews remained at the scene for more than an hour after the explosion.
Authorities said there was no threat to the public from toxic fumes or other hazards.
Officials also stressed that other scheduled launches from the region remain unaffected.
A planned mission by United Launch Alliance (ULA) using an Atlas V rocket is still expected to proceed as scheduled.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk publicly expressed support for Blue Origin, saying he hoped the company would recover quickly from the incident.
Standing 321 feet tall, New Glenn first flew in 2025 and was named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth.
The rocket is significantly larger than Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicles, which are primarily used for suborbital space tourism flights.
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