A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded Thursday in Brevard County, filling the night sky with fire along Florida’s Space Coast. A spokesperson for the U.S. Space Force confirmed the rocket exploded at 9 p.m. at Space Launch Complex 36 during a hotfire test, which Blue Origin itself described earlier on social media.Blue Origin statement”We experienced an anomaly during today’s hotfire test,” Blue Origin’s post states. “All personnel have been accounted for. We will provide updates as we learn more.” Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos said on social media that work is underway to determine the root cause of the explosion.The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement it had received info “that there was a failure of the test firing and an explosion,” adding preliminary reports show no injuries. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket was recently transported to Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station ahead of the planned Leo New Glenn 1 launch.Officials reactCongressman Mike Haridopolos, R-Brevard County, said on social media that he had spoken with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and is grateful no injuries were reported.Rep. Haridopolos is the chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. He phoned in to WESH 2 News to discuss the explosion.>>Video below: Congressman Mike Haridopolos joins WESH 2 News to discuss Blue Origin explosionWe also heard from Titusville Mayor Andrew Connors, who called during our live coverage of the explosion to speak with us.>>Video below: Titusville Mayor Andrew Connors discusses Blue Origin explosion on WESH 2 NewsExpert weighs inSpace expert Ken Kremer joined WESH 2 News earlier in the night to discuss the explosion as well.”They were loading propellant into the rocket and they started a static fire test, which is not a launch; the rocket is sitting on the pad and they want to ignite the engines for several seconds to test them all out and make sure everything will work when they do the launch in the next few weeks. That was the plan.” he said.>>Video below: Space expert Ken Kremer joins WESH 2 News to talk Blue Origin explosionWESH 2 News is working to learn more.Both SpaceX and United Launch Alliance are scheduled to launch Falcon 9 and Atlas V rockets, respectively, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday. >> This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded Thursday in Brevard County, filling the night sky with fire along Florida’s Space Coast.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Space Force confirmed the rocket exploded at 9 p.m. at Space Launch Complex 36 during a hotfire test, which Blue Origin itself described earlier on social media.
Blue Origin statement
“We experienced an anomaly during today’s hotfire test,” Blue Origin’s post states. “All personnel have been accounted for. We will provide updates as we learn more.”
Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos said on social media that work is underway to determine the root cause of the explosion.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement it had received info “that there was a failure of the test firing and an explosion,” adding preliminary reports show no injuries.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket was recently transported to Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station ahead of the planned Leo New Glenn 1 launch.
Officials react
Congressman Mike Haridopolos, R-Brevard County, said on social media that he had spoken with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and is grateful no injuries were reported.
This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Rep. Haridopolos is the chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. He phoned in to WESH 2 News to discuss the explosion.
>>Video below: Congressman Mike Haridopolos joins WESH 2 News to discuss Blue Origin explosion
We also heard from Titusville Mayor Andrew Connors, who called during our live coverage of the explosion to speak with us.
>>Video below: Titusville Mayor Andrew Connors discusses Blue Origin explosion on WESH 2 News
Expert weighs in
Space expert Ken Kremer joined WESH 2 News earlier in the night to discuss the explosion as well.
“They were loading propellant into the rocket and they started a static fire test, which is not a launch; the rocket is sitting on the pad and they want to ignite the engines for several seconds to test them all out and make sure everything will work when they do the launch in the next few weeks. That was the plan.” he said.
>>Video below: Space expert Ken Kremer joins WESH 2 News to talk Blue Origin explosion
WESH 2 News is working to learn more.
Both SpaceX and United Launch Alliance are scheduled to launch Falcon 9 and Atlas V rockets, respectively, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday.
>> This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is released