A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket stands prepared for launch on the Cape Canaveral Area Power station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., April 18, 2026.
John Raoux/AP
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John Raoux/AP
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A rocket belonging to Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin exploded throughout a check on the launch pad Thursday evening, shaking close by properties and briefly portray the sky orange.
Blue Origin mentioned its New Glenn rocket exploded throughout an engine-firing check being carried out forward of a satellite tv for pc launch deliberate for subsequent week. Nobody was damage, in response to officers at Cape Canaveral Area Power Station.
“It is too early to know the foundation trigger however we’re already working to search out it,” Bezos mentioned through X. “Very tough day, however we’ll rebuild no matter wants rebuilding and get again to flying. It is price it.”
The large New Glenn was grounded in April after it left a satellite tv for pc within the improper orbit due to engine failure. It was solely the third flight of the rocket that Blue Origin intends to make use of to launch landers to the moon for NASA, together with the landers that may take astronauts to the lunar floor.
The corporate had been on observe to launch a prototype lunar lander to the moon on a flight check this fall. Earlier this week, the house company awarded Blue Origin a contract price a whole lot of thousands and thousands of {dollars} to launch a pair of moon buggies within the subsequent few years as a part of the Artemis program.
“Spaceflight is unforgiving, and creating new heavy-lift launch functionality is awfully troublesome,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman mentioned through X. He promised to offer data on any impacts to the Artemis program, together with the moon base that he just lately outlined.
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket explodes throughout an engine-firing check on Thursday, Might 28, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
@JConcilus/AP
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@JConcilus/AP
Houses shook in close by Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Seaside round 9 p.m., with residents turning to social media to marvel what occurred. Launch Advanced 36 is seen from the seaside, and the web rapidly full of images of an orange fireball.
The rocket was imagined to blast off subsequent week with web satellites which might be a part of the Amazon Leo constellation in orbit.
Emergency crews remained greater than an hour after the explosion. Officers confused there was no risk as a result of fumes or different potential hazards.
Area Power officers mentioned the explosion wouldn’t have an effect on upcoming launches by different corporations from different pads. United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket is because of blast off Friday evening with a batch of Amazon Leo satellites, the identical form that this rocket was imagined to take up.
SpaceX’s Elon Musk, who’s had his personal share of rocket explosions, supplied his condolences. “Sorry to see this, I hope you recuperate rapidly,” he informed Blue Origin through X.
Towering at 321 toes (98 meters), New Glenn made its debut in 2025. It’s named after John Glenn, the primary American to orbit Earth, and is way greater and extra highly effective than the New Shepard rockets which have carried vacationers to the fringes of house from Texas.
