Video shows dramatic Blue Origin rocket explosion as Bezos faces setback

CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA: A Blue Origin rocket exploded in a massive fireball Thursday night, as per the video circulating on social media, handing billionare owner Jeff Bezos' space company a major setback in its growing rivalry with SpaceX.

The company said the blast happened during a hotfire test of its 320-foot New Glenn rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Blue Origin confirmed that “all personnel have been accounted for” after what it called an “anomaly” during testing.

Blue Origin confirms blast

Video of the explosion spread rapidly across social media within minutes of the incident.

The footage showed the New Glenn rocket suddenly erupting into flames before being swallowed by a huge fireball. Other clips captured thick smoke and a yellow haze filling the sky around the launchpad.

Blue Origin acknowledged the explosion in a post on X.

“We experienced an anomaly during today's hotfire test,” the company wrote. “All personnel have been accounted for. We will provide updates as we learn more.”

The rocket involved in the blast was Blue Origin’s fourth New Glenn vehicle. The company had been preparing it for a future launch carrying 48 Amazon Leo broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit.

Blue Origin had not publicly announced a launch date, though the rocket had been expected to potentially lift off as early as June 4, according to a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory.

Bezos vows comeback

Bezos addressed the explosion directly in his own X post hours after the incident.

“It's too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it,” the billionaire wrote.

He also admitted the company had suffered a difficult setback.

“Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying,” Bezos added. “It’s worth it.”

The explosion immediately fueled online discussion about the pressure facing Blue Origin as it tries to compete more aggressively with Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the commercial launch business.

Several X users circulated footage of the blast while reacting to the scale of the explosion and the destruction seen at the launch site.

One user wrote that the scene looked “apocalyptic” as videos showed flames and smoke surrounding the rocket moments after the test failed.

The failed hotfire test now raises fresh questions about Blue Origin’s launch timeline and its broader efforts to expand New Glenn operations.

For now, the company says it is focused on determining what caused the explosion while assessing damage from the fiery blast at Cape Canaveral.