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A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket owned by billionaire tech giant Jeff Bezos has exploded on a launch pad in a disastrous test in Florida.
Live footage showed the rocket burst into an enormous fireball at the start of a test around 9pm on Thursday at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station..
The company later described the explosion as an “anomaly” during a planned “hotfire test” – a procedure where engines are ignited while the rocket remains fixed to the launch pad.
“All personnel have been accounted for,” the company added.
Elon Musk, whose own rival aerospace company SpaceX has experienced its fair share of rocket failures, had a cutting one-line response as the explosion went viral online.
“Most unfortunate. Rockets are hard,” Musk wrote on X.
The post instantly exploded online, racking up reactions from users convinced the Tesla and SpaceX boss was enjoying the moment more than he let on.
Steve Huffman replied: “We know you were smiling a little as you wrote that.”
Another user added: “Why would anyone try to compete with SpaceX at this point?”
Others interpreted the exchange differently, suggesting it reflected a rare show of mutual bonding between two men locked in one of the world’s biggest billionaire space races.
“Guys we’re witnessing the beginning of a friendship,” one person joked.
The incident occurred around 9pm Thursday local time at Space Launch Complex 36 in Florida, currently the only launch pad capable of handling Blue Origin’s massive New Glenn rockets.
The 320-foot rocket had been preparing for its fourth mission, which was expected to launch 48 satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband internet network. The satellites were not on-board during the test.
Footage from the scene showed a huge fireball engulfing the rocket before thick smoke and a strange yellow haze spread across the launch site.
The setback is a significant blow for Bezos’ space ambitions as Blue Origin attempts to challenge SpaceX’s dominance in both commercial launches and satellite internet.
Blue Origin successfully launched its third New Glenn rocket only last month, with the company aggressively ramping up operations in a bid to catch Musk’s industry-leading business.
But despite Bezos pouring billions into Blue Origin, SpaceX remains miles ahead in launch capability, reusable rocket technology and global satellite coverage through its Starling network.
The rivalry between Musk and Bezos has simmered for years, with both billionaires regularly competing for government contracts, satellite dominance and prestige in the rapidly growing private space race.
The explosion also comes as Musk and SpaceX remain under intense scrutiny over the company’s growing influence inside the US military and global communications infrastructure.
Recent reports claimed Pentagon officials had clashed with SpaceX over pricing for Starling satellite services being used in military drone operations. Reuters reported the dispute centred on costs tied to specialised military-grade “Starshield” systems.
The Pentagon later denied claims of major conflict, insisting SpaceX remained a “strong and valued partner”.
Musk also rejected suggestions SpaceX had improperly pressured defence officials, calling parts of the reporting “false”.
Still, analysts say the controversy highlights how deeply reliant governments have become on Musk’s technology empire.
“With a large commercial market for Starlink, alongside its rocket launch and artificial intelligence businesses, [SpaceX] certainly has the US government over the barrel,” senior fellow Clayton Swope from the Center for Strategic and International Studies recently said.
That dominance is precisely what rivals like Blue Origin are trying to crack.
But after Thursday night’s fiery disaster, many online were once again asking whether anyone can realistically catch Musk’s space juggernaut.
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