Blue Origin Rocket Blows Up on Florida Launchpad During Test
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- A Blue Origin rocket exploded on the launchpad in Florida during a test on Thursday night, causing significant damage to the launchpad and surrounding equipment.
- The explosion occurred at about 9 p.m. during a hotfire test of the rocket's seven engines, with the rocket held down on the pad; all personnel were reported safe.
- The damaged launchpad at Cape Canaveral is the only one Blue Origin has for its 322-foot New Glenn rocket, and repairs are expected to take months.
- The rocket was intended to carry 48 Amazon satellites for the low-Earth orbit internet constellation, Project Kuiper, but the satellites were not onboard at the time of the explosion.