A New Glenn rocket, like the one seen here, exploded Thursday night in Florida after experiencing an anomaly. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo
May 29 (UPI) -- A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded on a Florida launch pad Thursday night after experiencing what the company called an "anomaly" during a hot-fire test.
"All personnel have been accounted for. We will provide updates as we learn more," Blue Origin said in a social media statement.
Video of the incident posted online shows the rocket standing erect on platform at Launch Complex 36 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. An explosion erupts from the bottom of the rocket and grows larger as it moves up the cylindrical rocket into a massive ball of flame and smoke that rises into the sky.
It exploded during a prelaunch engine-firing procedure known as a hot-fire test ahead of a planned launch to send 48 Amazon Leo satellites into low-Earth orbit. It was to be the fourth launch of its Blue Origin rocket.
