Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Explodes on Launch Pad, May 29

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket exploded during a ground test at Cape Canaveral on Thursday night, destroying the launch pad and delaying planned satellite missions. The New Glenn, a 98-meter heavy-lift rocket designed to compete with SpaceX, caught fire during an engine test around 9 p.m. local time. All personnel were safe. The explosion is the second major failure in two months and threatens NASA contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars for lunar missions.

What Happened During the Test

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket erupted into a massive fireball during a hot-fire test, where engineers fire up engines while the rocket sits anchored to the ground. The 188-foot first stage caught fire seconds after the countdown began, followed by the 86-foot upper stage tilting and collapsing. The explosion destroyed the launch pad, the erector-gantry used to move the rocket, and one of two lightning towers. The company confirmed all personnel were accounted for and safe. Blue Origin said it experienced an anomaly during the test and will investigate the cause.

Why This Matters for NASA and Artemis

The New Glenn is central to Blue Origin’s bid to support NASA’s lunar program. Earlier this week, NASA awarded Blue Origin a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars to launch moon buggies as part of the Artemis program. The company was also on track to launch a prototype lunar lander this fall. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency will work with Blue Origin to investigate the failure and assess impacts to the Artemis and Moon Base programs. The $20 billion lunar base project now faces potential delays.

Second Setback in Two Months

This explosion follows an April failure when the New Glenn’s second stage left a satellite in the wrong orbit due to engine failure. That was only the rocket’s third flight since its debut in 2025. Bezos acknowledged the rough day but said the company will rebuild and return to flying. The repeated failures raise questions about the rocket’s readiness to compete with SpaceX’s Falcon and Starship for commercial and government contracts.

Stock Impact and Investor Outlook

Blue Origin is a private company owned by Bezos and is not publicly traded. However, the explosion affects Amazon’s satellite internet plans and NASA contracts that generate revenue for the broader Bezos business empire. Meyka rates BLUE (bluebird bio, a separate biotechnology company) at B with a Sell recommendation, though this is unrelated to Blue Origin. Investors should monitor NASA contract announcements and launch schedule updates for signs of recovery.

Final Thoughts

Blue Origin faces a critical test of its ability to recover from repeated failures. With NASA contracts at stake and competition from SpaceX intensifying, the company must quickly identify the root cause and rebuild launch infrastructure.

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