Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded while on the launchpad for a hot-fire test at Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S. media outlets reported on Thursday.
“We detected an anomaly during the hot-fire test,” stated the company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos in a brief message posted on the social media platform X, adding that “all personnel have been accounted for.”
A video shows smoke billowing from the bottom of the rocket before an explosion completely destroys it.
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Florida Representative Mike Haridopolos, whose congressional district includes Cape Canaveral, indicated on X that he had “spoken” with NASA Chief Jared Isaacman regarding the explosion.
“I am relieved that no injuries were reported and I thank the first responders, engineers, and launch teams who acted quickly,” Haridopolos wrote.
In April, Blue Origin had already suffered a setback when a malfunction prevented its large New Glenn rocket from placing a communications satellite into its intended orbit. The space company has opened an investigation.
