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Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded on a Florida launch pad in a dramatic scene fit for a Hollywood action flick Thursday night.

Live footage showed the 321-foot-tall mega-rocket burst into an enormous fireball at the start of a test around 9 p.m. — though the Jeff Bezos-owned company made clear there were no reported injuries as a result.

“We experienced an anomaly during today’s hotfire test,” Blue Origin tweeted Thursday night, while Bezos described Thursday as a “rough day.”

The test started with smoke coming from the rocket’s engines and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station launch pad was illuminated. 


  The massive explosion was seen during a live feed. X /@JerryPikePhoto / @NASASpaceflight The massive explosion was seen during a live feed. X /@JerryPikePhoto / @NASASpaceflight

Seconds later, the rocket was consumed by fire — with flames shooting up its sides before a huge blast sent sparks flying.

The first stage of the rocket — an 188-foot-tall rocket booster — was completely engulfed before collapsing, CBS reported

As the booster was consumed by flames, the rocket’s 88-foot-tall upper stage tilted and eventually fell.


  Fire and smoke started to rise from the rocket’s launch pad seconds into the test. Courtney Blair via REUTERS Fire and smoke started to rise from the rocket’s launch pad seconds into the test. Courtney Blair via REUTERS

There was a massive, doomsday-like fireball and sparks rained down along the central Florida coastline.

A huge mushroom cloud engulfed the launch pad and towering plumes of smoke billowed into the air.

The company referred The Post to its social media statement when emailed for comment. 

“It’s too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it,” Bezos tweeted. “Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it.”

Teddy Graham, a worker at Cape Canaveral’s Rusty Seafood and Oyster Bar who moved from Wisconsin to Florida six years ago, told Fox35 he started filming the explosion after the sky “went completely bright.”


  A fireball illuminated the sky off the coast of central Florida. JohnCn (@JConcilus) on X / UGC/AFP via Getty Images A fireball illuminated the sky off the coast of central Florida. JohnCn (@JConcilus) on X / UGC/AFP via Getty Images

“I pulled out my phone and just started recording,” he said.

“I just posted [it] on my Snapchat and my Instagram. I just took a video and my first thought was, I hope everyone was okay and no one was there.”

Graham said he felt a “shake” in the moments following the explosion.

“All the windows just completely shook,” he added.

“I live beachside so being even closer to it, I felt the whole shaking.


  Sparks rained down over the launch site. AP Sparks rained down over the launch site. AP

“Experiencing it at work, even closer, was even crazier.”

New Glenn has been worked on for a decade and cost billions in a bid to rival Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s fleet and its stronger Starship. 

“Most unfortunate. Rockets are hard,” Musk tweeted in reply to a video of the incident.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said on X Thursday night the space agency was aware of the “anomaly” at Launch Complex 36 and vowed to conduct a “thorough” probe into the explosion.


  Four images of the ill-fated test. JohnCn (@JConcilus) on X / UGC/AFP via Getty Images Four images of the ill-fated test. JohnCn (@JConcilus) on X / UGC/AFP via Getty Images

“Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult,” he stated.

“We will work with our partners to support a thorough investigation of this anomaly, assess near-term mission impacts, and get back to launching rockets. We will provide information on any impacts to the Artemis and Moon Base programs as it becomes available.”

The Federal Aviation Administration said the test at the Sunshine State’s Cape Canaveral was not “within the scope of FAA licensed activities.”

“There was no impact to air traffic,” an agency rep said.  

The striking footage captured on NASASpaceflight comes as the rocket was prepping for an upcoming launch that would have carried 48 satellites for Amazon’s internet constellation, according to the New York Times.

“I am grateful there were no reported injuries and thankful for the first responders, engineers, and launch crews who acted quickly,” tweeted US Rep. Mike Haridopolos (R-Fla.), whose district covers the space complex.

“Praying for Florida’s Space Coast and everyone involved.”

The Glenn rocket is named after John Glenn, a famous NASA astronaut who became a US senator. 

With Post wires

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