The New Glenn rocket, developed by Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, exploded on the evening of May 28 (9 p.m. local time) during a test at the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida. A huge ball of fire engulfed the launch area seconds after the engine ignited, causing a spectacular fire visible from a great distance.

The incident occurred during a 'hot ignition test', a critical step that involves igniting the rocket's engines while it remains firmly attached to the launch pad. This type of test verifies the proper functioning of the systems prior to an actual launch. Blue Origin was quick to point out that an 'anomaly' had occurred, while clarifying that all the personnel at the scene were safe and unharmed.

This explosion is yet another setback for New Glenn, the nearly 100-meter-tall giant rocket designed to compete with SpaceX's launch vehicles. The vehicle was scheduled to take part in a mission to put several satellites into orbit for Amazon's online project. Fortunately, the payload had not yet been installed at the time of detonation.

An investigation will now determine the exact cause of the incident and assess damage to the launch infrastructure. This accident also risks delaying several missions that Blue Origin has planned, as the company has been trying for several years to accelerate the development of its space program in the face of increasingly aggressive competition from SpaceX.