Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded on the launch pad, destroying its only pad and threatening Amazon’s satellite deadline

TL;DR

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded during a static fire test at Cape Canaveral on 28 May, destroying the vehicle, the erector-gantry, and a lightning tower at its only launch pad. The incident threatens Amazon’s satellite deployment deadline and comes one day after NASA awarded Blue Origin a $188 million Moon Base contract.

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded during a static fire test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday night, sending a fireball into the sky and destroying the vehicle along with critical launch pad infrastructure. The explosion occurred at approximately 9pm EDT as engineers were counting down to a brief test firing of the rocket’s seven BE-4 methane-fuelled engines. The rocket was fully loaded with methane fuel and liquid oxygen when it detonated.

All personnel were accounted for and safe. Jeff Bezos posted on Xshortly after the incident, saying it was too early to...

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