Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its New Glenn rocket exploded during a static fire test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The incident happened on May 28 at Space Launch Complex 36. Blue Origin said the rocket experienced an anomaly during the hotfire test, while officials said all personnel were accounted for and safe.

No Injuries Reported

Officials at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station said no injuries or fatalities were reported after the explosion.

Emergency teams responded to the launch complex after the incident. Range officials, Blue Origin, and other partners are now reviewing data to determine the cause.

Jeff Bezos said it was too early to know the root cause, but the company had already started working to find it. He also said Blue Origin would rebuild what needed to be rebuilt and return to flight.

JUST IN: Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin New Glenn rocket explodes during a static-fire test. pic.twitter.com/ISDAYoCt9f

— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) May 29, 2026

Test Was Ahead of Planned Launch

The static fire test was being conducted before a planned satellite launch next week.

The New Glenn rocket was not carrying its intended payload at the time of the explosion. Reuters reported that the planned mission was expected to carry 48 Amazon Leo satellites.

The explosion produced a large fireball and shook nearby homes, according to reports.

Another Setback for New Glenn

The incident adds pressure on Blue Origin’s New Glenn program, which is central to the company’s effort to compete in the heavy lift launch market.

New Glenn is also important to Blue Origin’s future commercial and government missions, including work connected to NASA’s lunar exploration plans.

The rocket had already faced scrutiny after an earlier mission issue in April, when a New Glenn launch failed to place a satellite into its intended orbit.

Investigation Underway

Blue Origin has not yet confirmed the cause of the explosion or provided a timeline for returning New Glenn to flight.

The US Federal Aviation Administration said it was aware of the incident. NASA also said it would support the investigation and assess any possible impact on related missions.