Blue Origin rocket explodes during ground test, raising concerns for NASA's Moon plans

A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket experienced a catastrophic explosion on its launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, during an engine-firing "hotfire" test on May 28, 2026. The incident, which occurred around 9 p.m. local time, generated a massive fireball and caused extensive damage to the launch facilities, including the destruction of the rocket and parts of the pad infrastructure.

Fortunately, all personnel involved were accounted for and confirmed safe, with no injuries reported. Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos acknowledged the setback, affirming the company's commitment to investigating the cause and rebuilding. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman also commented on the "anomaly," highlighting the challenges of spaceflight and assuring a comprehensive investigation into potential impacts on the Artemis and Moon Base programs, where Blue Origin is a crucial partner.

This explosion represents a significant delay for Blue Origin's New Glenn program, as the rocket was undergoing preparations for its fourth mission, intended to deploy Amazon's "Leo" internet satellites, which were not on board during the test. The event follows a previous malfunction in April that had temporarily grounded the New Glenn.