Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket has exploded in a massive fireball during a static fire test at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, with all personnel confirmed safe following the Blue Origin launch anomaly.
Explosion During Test
A rocket has exploded at a NASA space centre in the United States. Reports indicate that Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during a static fire test at Launch Complex 36 at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. Blue Origin has since released a statement following today's explosion. A spokesperson said, via a post on social media: "We experienced an anomaly during today's hotfire test. All personnel have been accounted for. We will provide updates as we learn more."
Statement from Jeff Bezos
Blue Origin chief executive and Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos has also issued a statement online, echoing Blue Origin's earlier comments shared via X. Bezos said: "All personnel are accounted for and safe. It's too early to know the root cause, but we're already working to find it." The world's fourth-richest person added: "Very rough day, but we'll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It's worth it."
Details of the Incident
The explosion occurred shortly after 9pm local time on Thursday, May 28. In footage circulating online, a detonation can be seen erupting from the base of the rocket, before smoke billows up the shaft of the vessel, culminating in an explosion near the uppermost tip of the spacecraft. The entire structure is then consumed by a vast, bright yellow fireball. NASA is yet to release an official statement, either online or via social media platform X, which is standard protocol for immediate breaking news incidents. However, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology subcommittee chair Mike Haridopolos has issued the following statement via X: "I've already spoken with @NASAAdmin Jared Isaacman regarding the explosion of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket tonight at Kennedy Space Center. I am grateful there were no reported injuries and thankful for the first responders, engineers, and launch crews who acted quickly. Praying for Florida's Space Coast and everyone involved."
Blue Origin's History and Recent Developments
Blue Origin is perhaps most recognised for its 11 minute space journey in 2025 that transported several celebrities into the dark void beyond; with singer Katy Perry widely ridiculed after she kissed the ground upon touching down following her voyage to the edge of space on 14 April last year aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket. The landmark flight featured an all-female crew and ascended beyond 60 miles above Earth, providing the passengers with several minutes of weightlessness. In perhaps more serious space developments, the blast at the Florida NASA facility arrives days after the US Space Agency unveiled new remarkable proposals to establish a permanent base on the Moon. The US space agency has detailed the initial phase of its ambitious proposals to construct an expansive Moon station that could span hundreds of square miles. It is believed the facility could accommodate astronauts for prolonged stays from the coming decade as a fresh lunar competition intensifies. On Monday, China launched a rocket transporting three astronauts into space as Beijing pursues its goal of landing humans on the Moon by 2030. NASA has started commissioning landers, rovers and drones for its Moon base ambitions, awarding hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to four US firms. Blue Origin will supply a pair of landers to transport moon buggies to the lunar surface at a location near the moon's south pole. The 'lunar terrain vehicles' will be constructed by Astrolab and Lunar Outpost, while Firefly Aerospace, which touched down successfully on the moon last year, will deliver the first drones to the moon. It is hoped the equipment will arrive before the first Artemis astronauts land on Hope, scheduled for as early as 2028.
