New space race

The worst rocket accident of its kind in over fifty years

The explosion of the space company Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket during a test in Florida on Friday night may be the most powerful and dramatic explosion of its kind since the Soviet N1 rocket exploded on the launch pad in 1969. This is what Ars Technica writes.

The accident is also undoubtedly the worst accident in Blue Origin's 26-year history. When the competing space company SpaceX suffered a smaller, similar accident last year, it took over a year to restore the launch pad.

Space rocket exploded on the launch pad in Florida

A space rocket from the company Blue Origin has exploded during a test at Cape Canaveral in Florida, the company says on X. All personnel are expected to be safe.

Video footage from the scene shows the rocket exploding in a fireball that appears to engulf the entire facility.

According to the BBC, the incident poses no danger to the public.

"A very tough day, but we will build what needs to be built and keep flying," Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos wrote on X.