Blue Origin’s rocket launcher crashed about a minute after takeoff Monday in West Texas.
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The Blue Origin rocket launcher crashed shortly after takeoff on Monday, September 12, in West Texas (United States), announced the company of Jeff Bezos. A “launcher malfunction” occurred during this “unmanned flight”. The company specifies that the capsule was however able to separate from the rest of the rocket. “There are no casualties”added Blue Origin.
A video shows, about a minute after takeoff, the capsule activating its emergency engines and ejecting from the main launcher at full speed, then, accompanied by parachutes, its hard landing. The video does not show what became of the launcher, with the company writing that it is “fallen to the ground”whereas in case of success it must come back to stand up, gently.
Booster failure on today’s uncrewed flight. Escape system performed as designed. pic.twitter.com/xFDsUMONTh
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) September 12, 2022
The capsule, unmanned, was carrying only research equipment for this mission called “New Shepard 23”. The American civil aviation regulator, the FAA, has announced that it has blocked any further take-off of this rocket while the investigation is ongoing. “The capsule landed safely and the launcher touched down in the hazard zone”wrote the federal agency.
It was the 23rd mission for the company, the first to end in failure. It is a blow for the space tourism company led by the founder of Amazon. Jeff Bezos had himself participated in the first manned flight of New Shepard in July 2021. Since then, the machine has transported around thirty people.