Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Test, May 29

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded on its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on May 28 at 9 p.m. EDT during a hotfire test. The massive fireball destroyed the launch pad and forced Blue Origin to halt operations. No injuries were reported. The explosion threatens NASA’s plans to build a lunar base and delays Amazon’s Leo broadband satellite constellation, which was scheduled to launch as soon as June 4.

What Happened During the Test

The New Glenn rocket ignited during a static fire test, a ground-based engine check performed before launch. The rocket erupted into a giant fireball that engulfed Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral around 9 p.m. EDT on May 28. Video footage shows the explosion sent a towering plume of flames and smoke skyward, with shockwaves felt 115 miles away in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Blue Origin called the incident an “anomaly” in a statement on X. Founder Jeff Bezos confirmed all personnel were safe and said the company was working to find the root cause. The Federal Aviation Administration said the test was not within the scope of FAA licensed activities and posed no threat to air traffic.

Damage to Launch Infrastructure

The explosion caused extensive damage to Launch Complex 36, the only facility in the world built to launch the New Glenn rocket. Footage shows one of the pad’s lightning protection towers toppled in the aftermath. Analysts expect the launch pad rebuild and re-certification to take months, not weeks, leaving Blue Origin unable to fly its largest rocket during that time.

The Amazon Leo satellites had not yet been transported to the launch site, so no payloads were destroyed. However, the incident delays the first of 24 launches Amazon booked on New Glenn rockets.

Impact on NASA’s Moon Plans

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency was aware of the incident and would assess impacts to the Artemis and Moon Base programs. On Tuesday, May 27, NASA awarded Blue Origin a $188 million contract to deliver rovers to the moon’s surface using its Mark 1 lunar lander. The Moon Base 1 mission was targeted for launch no earlier than autumn 2026 and was to ride on top of a New Glenn rocket.

The explosion raises immediate doubts about whether Blue Origin can meet its lunar commitments. NASA also said Blue Origin is competing with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to provide a lunar lander for the Artemis IV mission planned for 2028, when astronauts are scheduled to land on the moon for the first time since 1972.

Second Major Setback in Six Weeks

This explosion follows an earlier failure on April 19, when New Glenn’s second stage failed to deliver AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 satellite to safe orbit, though the first stage booster landed successfully. The FAA ordered an investigation into that mishap. Blue Origin received FAA clearance to resume launches on May 22, just six days before the May 28 explosion.

Musk responded to the explosion on X, writing: “Most unfortunate. Rockets are hard.” The incident underscores the challenges both companies face in developing heavy-lift launch capability for the competitive space market.

Final Thoughts

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explosion on May 28 deals a major blow to the company’s NASA contracts and Amazon Leo satellite plans. With the launch pad destroyed and repairs expected to take months, Blue Origin faces significant delays to its lunar base and Artemis program commitments.

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