Blue Origin explosion is a major setback for NASA’s Moon plans and Amazon’s Starlink competitor

New Glenn rocket explodes astatine Launch Complex 36 connected Thursday nighttime successful Florida. | Image: Spaceflight Now

While Blue Origin investigates the basal origin down past night's spectacular detonation of its New Glenn rocket, it's already wide that this volition beryllium a large setback for NASA's Moon basal plans and Amazon's fledgling Leo abstraction net constellation.

The incidental occurred astatine astir 9pm astatine Blue Origin's Florida motorboat tract during a hot-fire test, wherever 7 engines successful the booster signifier are lit portion keeping the 322-foot-tall rocket fixed to the launchpad. The detonation and ensuing fireball severely damaged the lone launchpad Blue Origin has for its New Glenn rocket.

Read the afloat communicative astatine The Verge.