A hot-fire test at Blue Origin’s Florida launch site caused a spectacular explosion around 9pm, with seven booster-stage engines lit while the 322-foot rocket remained fixed to the launchpad. The explosion and fireball severely damaged the only New Glenn launchpad. Blue Origin stated it was too early to determine the root cause but said it is working to find it and will rebuild what is needed. Sources indicate the transporter-erector and a lightning tower at LC-36A may be unsalvageable. The damage could prevent New Glenn from launching again in 2026, and a launch in early 2027 would be difficult. The delay would affect NASA plans for a robotic lunar lander and Amazon’s Leo space internet constellation.
"While Blue Origin investigates the root cause behind last night's spectacular explosion of its New Glenn rocket, it's already clear that this will be a major setback for NASA's Moon base plans and Amazon's fledgling Leo space internet constellation."
"The incident occurred at about 9pm at Blue Origin's Florida launch site during a hot-fire test, where seven engines in the booster stage are lit while keeping the 322-foot-tall rocket fixed to the launchpad. The explosion and ensuing fireball severely damaged the only launchpad Blue Origin has for its New Glenn rocket."
""It's too early to know the root cause but we're already working to find it," wrote Blue Origin boss Jeff Bezos on X. "Very rough day, but we'll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It's worth it.""
"According to sources speaking to Ars Technica, the transporter-erector and one of the lightning towers at LC-36A may not be salvageable. "New Glenn almost certainly will not launch again in 2026, and frankly a launch during the first half of 2027 would be heroic given the launch site concerns," writes Eric Berger, senior space editor at Ars Technica."
Read at The Verge
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]