Space exploration is filled with setbacks, but the spectacular explosion of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket on Thursday night marked a significant blow to not only the company, which was founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, but also NASA, with the two collaborating for the upcoming US Moon missions.
“Spaceflight is unforgiving,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a post on X soon after the explosion, promising to “support a thorough investigation of this anomaly,” which happened during a ground test and resulted in no injuries.
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The rocket - which stands 98 meters (321 feet) tall and is the most powerful in Blue Origin’s fleet - exploded around 9:00 pm local time Thursday (0100 GMT Friday).
It was undergoing a ground test in Cape Canaveral, Florida in preparation of an upcoming flight when it blew up in a massive fireball, sending shockwaves throughout the space industry.
