tech
The most spectacular rocket explosion since N1 just happened in Florida
New Glenn was due to play a starring role in NASA’s Artemis Program.
TL;DR
- Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during a static fire test on Thursday evening at its Florida launch site, LC-36A.
- The failure occurred after engine ignition, originating in the first stage powered by seven BE-4 engines.
- The explosion caused extensive damage to the launch site infrastructure, potentially delaying future launches significantly.
- This incident has major implications for NASA's Artemis program, as New Glenn was scheduled to deliver lunar rovers and cargo landers.
- Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos stated that the company will investigate the root cause and rebuild necessary components.