Blue Origin’s massive New Glenn rocket exploded Thursday night during a static fire engine test at Launch Complex 36 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The anomaly occurred around 9 p.m. EDT as the vehicle’s seven BE-4 engines ignited for the hotfire test ahead of the planned NG-4 mission, which was set to carry Amazon Leo satellites into orbit. The explosion destroyed the booster — named “No, It’s Necessary” — along with the upper stage and caused significant damage to the launch pad, including toppling a lightning tower. No injuries were reported, as the test area had been cleared of personnel.
This marks a serious setback for Blue Origin’s flagship heavy-lift rocket, which had completed several successful flights earlier in 2026. New Glenn, standing over 320 feet tall, is designed to compete in the commercial launch market and support NASA’s Artemis lunar program. The NG-4 mission will now face an indefinite delay while investigators from Blue Origin and the FAA examine the cause of the failure.
@blueorigin New Glenn exploded during a static fire test at Launch Complex 36. @NASAAdmin pic.twitter.com/goHzMVrqNT
— liten drage (@DrageLiten) May 29, 2026
Some of the best footage yet of tonight’s explosion involving Blue Origin’s New Glenn, during a Static Fire Test at Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) in Florida. LC-36 appears to have suffered significant damage, with several towers and other structures entirely missing,…
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) May 29, 2026
We experienced an anomaly during today's hotfire test. All personnel have been accounted for. We will provide updates as we learn more.
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) May 29, 2026
Company officials described the event as an “anomaly” during the engine firing and confirmed all team members are safe. The incident highlights the inherent risks of rocket development, even for established players like Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos.
The explosion sent a large fireball into the night sky, visible from surrounding areas on Florida’s Space Coast. Launch Complex 36, which Blue Origin has heavily modified for New Glenn operations, sustained heavy infrastructure damage that will require extensive repairs.
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