Blue Origin New Glenn rocket explodes in Florida test, launch pad heavily damaged

On May 28 2026, Blue Origin’s heavy‑lift New Glenn rocket suffered a catastrophic failure during a routine static‑fire (hot‑fire) test at Launch Complex 36, Cape Canaveral, Florida. The vehicle, loaded with liquid methane and liquid oxygen, erupted into a massive fireball that destroyed the rocket and inflicted severe damage on the launch pad, including the transporter‑erector and support towers. No injuries were reported; all personnel were accounted for and safety zones were enforced.

The incident halts the planned NG‑4 mission, which was to carry dozens of Amazon Leo internet‑satellite payloads. Early loss estimates run into the hundreds of millions of dollars, and the FAA‑regulated launch facility may require months of reconstruction, with some officials suggesting a return to full operations could be delayed until 2028. The setback threatens Blue Origin’s role in NASA’s Artemis lunar‑lander program (Blue Moon) and gives rival SpaceX a strategic advantage, as it retains multiple operational launch sites.

Blue Origin has pledged to investigate the cause, rebuild the pad, and resume testing when safe, while NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman warned that repairs will take “serious time.”