Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Test
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket, linked to Jeff Bezos, exploded at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station during a test on Thursday night. The explosion occurred during an engine-firing test, ahead of a planned satellite launch set for next week. Nearby residents in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach witnessed the sky turning orange and felt the vibrations in their homes.
No injuries were reported following the incident. Jeff Bezos commented on the situation, stating, “It’s too early to identify the root cause, but efforts are underway to find it. We’ll rebuild and return to flying.” He highlighted the value of their mission despite this setback.
The New Glenn rocket, grounded in April for leaving a satellite in the wrong orbit due to engine failure, was on its third flight. Blue Origin intends to use New Glenn to launch moon landers for NASA, supporting missions to take astronauts to the lunar surface. A flight test of a prototype lunar lander was scheduled for this fall.
Earlier this week, NASA awarded Blue Origin a substantial contract for launching moon buggies as part of the Artemis program. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman acknowledged the challenges in developing heavy-lift launch capabilities and promised updates on any impacts to the Artemis program.
Social media buzzed with photos of the explosion, visible from Launch Complex 36. The planned launch was meant for internet satellites belonging to the Amazon Leo constellation. Despite the explosion, Space Force officials confirmed no threat from fumes or hazards. Upcoming launches by other companies remain unaffected.
United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket is set to launch shortly, carrying a batch of Amazon Leo satellites. SpaceX’s Elon Musk expressed sympathy towards Blue Origin, drawing from his own experiences with rocket explosions.
Standing at 321 feet, New Glenn debuted in 2025. Named after astronaut John Glenn, it surpasses the New Shepard rockets in size and power, the latter launching tourists to space from Texas.