Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket caught fire during takeoff
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The launch vehicle of the American company Blue Origin, billionaire Jeff Bezos, failed to launch an unmanned capsule into suborbital orbit New Shepard with research equipment. A minute after launch from a spaceport in Texas, when the spacecraft was almost at maximum speed, the booster caught fire. At the same time, the backup security system worked normally, the capsule detached from the rocket and parachuted down to the ground. There were no casualties or damage to public property, according to Blue Origin.
The flight was unmanned and the New Shepard carried only 36 research supplies, which according to the Blue Origin website were provided by scientific and research institutions, as well as students from different countries. Two more cargoes of research equipment were attached to the outer shell of the booster and were apparently destroyed when it hit the ground. It was the ninth flight of this particular launch vehicle and the fourth flight of this year’s New Shepard program, the first unmanned flight.
Since the beginning of the New Shepard program, there have been six manned launches, during which Blue Origin has lifted 31 people into suborbital orbit, including space tourists. Yesterday’s crash is being investigated by the US Federal Aviation Administration and all New Shepard flights will be suspended until the investigation is completed.
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