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
The incident occurred at Launch Complex 36 at the Kennedy Space Centre. Reports indicate that the rocket exploded during a static fire test, a routine procedure where engines are fired while the vehicle remains grounded.
Blue Origin released a statement via 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."
Amazon billionaire and Blue Origin CEO Jeff Bezos also issued a statement, echoing the company's earlier comments. "All personnel are accounted for and safe. It's too early to know the root cause, but we're already working to find it," Bezos said. He added, "Very rough day, but we'll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It's worth it."
The explosion occurred shortly after 9pm local time on Thursday, May 28. Footage circulating online shows a detonation erupting from the base of the rocket, followed by smoke billowing up the shaft, culminating in an explosion near the top of the spacecraft. The entire structure was then consumed by a vast, bright yellow fireball.
Reactions and Context
NASA has not yet released an official statement, which is standard protocol for immediate breaking news incidents. However, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology subcommittee chair Mike Haridopolos issued a statement on 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 is perhaps best known for its 11-minute space journey in 2025 that transported several celebrities into space. Singer Katy Perry was widely ridiculed after she kissed the ground upon returning from the edge of space on 14 April last year aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket. That all-female crew flight ascended beyond 60 miles above Earth, providing several minutes of weightlessness.
Broader Space Developments
The blast at the Florida NASA facility comes days after the US Space Agency unveiled new proposals to establish a permanent base on the Moon. NASA has detailed the initial phase of its ambitious plans to construct an expansive Moon station that could span hundreds of square miles. The facility could accommodate astronauts for prolonged stays from the coming decade as a new lunar competition intensifies.
On Monday, China launched a rocket carrying 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 near the moon's south pole. The 'lunar terrain vehicles' will be built by Astrolab and Lunar Outpost, while Firefly Aerospace, which successfully touched down on the moon last year, will deliver the first drones to the moon. The equipment is expected to arrive before the first Artemis astronauts land on the Moon, scheduled for as early as 2028.
