One of Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rockets failed in little over a minute after takeoff, before exploding into flames.
On Monday, 12 September, the New Shepard mission 23 was launched from Van Horn, Texas.
While there's room for six astronauts in the capsule, it wasn't carrying any people but instead had scientific research equipment and experiments onboard.
Within just over a minute, having reached roughly 28,000 feet (8,500m) above ground and travelling at 700mph (1,126 kph), the Blue Origin rocket - owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos - burst into flames.
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Soon after the failed launch, Blue Origin took to Twitter to update followers on the incident.
The post reads: "We’re responding to an issue this morning at our Launch Site One location in West Texas. This was a payload mission with no astronauts on board."
Despite there being no astronauts on board, the rocket company explained how the 'capsule escape system' still 'function as designed' ejecting the crew capsule, which then parachuted back to the ground safely.
"During today’s flight, the capsule escape system successfully separated the capsule from the booster. The booster impacted the ground. There are no reported injuries; all personnel have been accounted for," Blue Origin continued.
During today’s flight, the capsule escape system successfully separated the capsule from the booster. The booster impacted the ground. There are no reported injuries; all personnel have been accounted for.
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) September 12, 2022
The New Shepard rocket is a 'reusable suborbital rocket system designed to take astronauts and research payloads past the Kármán line – the internationally recognized boundary of space,' according to Blue Origin's website.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told Insider that an investigation will have to take place into the New Shepard before it's allowed to be launched again.
The FAA stated: "The capsule landed safely and the booster impacted within the designated hazard area. No injuries or public property damage have been reported.
"[However] the FAA will [have to] determine whether any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap affected public safety. This is standard practice for all mishap investigations."
The New Shepard's first trip to space took place on 20 July, 2021, with Bezos himself inside. The Amazon founder subsequently became the richest man to ever travel onboard a successful spaceflight.
Star Trek actor William Shatner joined the second crewed flight on the New Shepard. Shatner broke the record for the oldest person to reach space at the age of 90.
Similarly to yesterday's launch, there were issues with the launch of the New Shepard on its second trip to space, with the launch having to be delayed by 24 hours because of the weather conditions at the launch site.
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