<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A rocket built by Amazon billionaire </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jeff-bezos-lauren-sanchez-wedding-amazon-founder-arrives-in-venice-amid-protests/05f56aed-938f-44dd-9c64-d4fbfc67f97a" rel="" target="" title="Jeff Bezos'"><span>Jeff Bezos'</span></a><span> company Blue Origin appears to have exploded during a test on a launch pad in Florida.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Footage from </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/nasa" rel="" target="_blank" title="NASA's"><span>NASA's</span></a><span> live stream shows the Blue Origin New Glenn rocket bursting into flames on the launch pad about 9pm local time at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The rocket was destroyed in the blast within 14 seconds of the test launch, sending an enormous fireball high into the sky.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>NATIONAL:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/officeworks-offshores-jobs-overseas-to-philippines-and-india/f2676351-44cf-44d1-899a-f1df17547041" rel="" target="_blank" title="Officeworks to offshore jobs to India and Philippines in $15m restructure"><strong><span>Officeworks to offshore jobs to India and Philippines in $15m restructure</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/real-estate-bodies-say-federal-budget-will-increase-rent/fb13f81a-2699-4226-842e-f77544235f5e" target="_blank"><strong><span>Rents to jump 350 per cent under budget measures, modelling shows</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/asio-warning-mps-public-servants-over-talking-in-cars/eebc376f-06cd-4f53-9d57-1824eb47c047" target="_blank"><strong><span>Spy boss warns MPs about talking in cars</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Blue Origin had been performing a static fire test ahead of its fourth attempt at launching the nearly 100-metre-tall so-called "mega-rocket".</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/blue-origin-new-glenn-rocket-explodes-on-launchpad-in-florida/3a3e3757-bb2d-4fad-84be-32ce48d3fd88" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>No humans were on board the rocket during the test.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It is unknown if anybody was injured in the explosion.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The rocket was being prepared for a later launch to deliver Amazon Leo satellites into low-Earth orbit as part of the company's broadband constellation in space.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Its official launch date had not yet been scheduled.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had previously approved the New Glenn to fly again following a failure during the April test launch.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At the time, Blue Origin said it had implemented corrective measures after the rocket "experienced an off-nominal thermal condition, and, as a result, one of the BE-3U engines didn't achieve full thrust to reach our target orbit".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NASA and Blue Origin are yet to comment publicly on the failed launch.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Bezos' space company has also been contracted to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/nasa-signals-plans-for-first-moon-base/dc2a5d5d-76cf-45ee-9372-38af8a582785" rel="" target="_blank" title="assist in NASA's upcoming lunar missions."><span>assist in NASA's upcoming lunar missions.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Blue Origin was selected to send its Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance landers to deliver the first NASA equipment to the surface.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A $US188 million ($267 million) contract was awarded to Blue Origin for this mission.</span></div></div>