Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Ground Test Ends in Fiery Florida Explosion

The “hotfire” test — in which a rocket’s engine or launch vehicle is fully engaged without actually taking off — was in preparation for a June mission, NG-4, that was set to launch 48 Amazon Leo broadband satellites into orbit. It’s unclear what the current timeline for that mission is.

Amazon founder and Blue Origin CEO Jeff Bezos said in a post on X that no one was hurt in the explosion. “All personnel are accounted for and safe. It’s too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it,” he wrote. “Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it.”

Blue Origin’s X account posted Friday that debris from what it called the “hotfire anomaly” could wash ashore over the next few weeks. “If you encounter any debris, do not touch or approach it for your safety,” the company wrote. “Please report the location immediately.” It offered a hotline at 321-222-4355 and an email address, MissionRecovery@blueorigin.com, for those who find anything.