A test of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded at 9:00 p.m. on June 20 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, sending a plume of fire visible for miles and prompting over 90 emergency calls to 911. The uncrewed rocket was undergoing an engine fire test when the anomaly occurred, according to officials. The explosion destroyed the launch pad and left a field of metal debris and charred remnants on the site.
Witnesses described the blast as resembling a nuclear explosion. One caller told 911 operators it 'looked like the atom bomb' and 'shot more fire than I've ever seen in my life.' The flames glowed in the dark, visible from as far as Titusville and Palm Bay. Social media videos showed the explosion lighting up the night sky over the Space Coast.
The New Glenn rocket, which was not carrying a satellite payload, had no personnel on site at the time of the incident. Blue Origin confirmed no injuries, but investigators are working to determine the cause of the explosion. The launch pad, used for the rocket's upcoming orbital missions, will require extensive repairs.
This marks the largest explosion at Cape Canaveral in roughly a decade. The incident comes as Blue Origin prepares to compete with SpaceX and other companies for government and commercial launch contracts. The New Glenn rocket, designed to carry heavy payloads to orbit, had previously undergone ground tests but had not yet launched.
Residents across Brevard County reported hearing the explosion, with some mistaking it for a plane crash. The event has raised questions about safety protocols for rocket testing on the Space Coast, where multiple companies operate launch facilities. Officials say the incident will not delay future missions but will require a thorough review of the company's testing procedures.