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Space expert on Blue Origin explosion: 'They will recover'
Space expert Ken Kremer, founder of Space UpClose, said there are a lot of smart people working on Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket. He said Thursday night's test failure may shake credibility in the short term, but "they will recover." "They will recover. You can't just give up when something goes wrong. But it also means you have to redouble your efforts," he said.
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. - We have ended the live updates on this blog. Click here for the latest news and infomation on Blue Origin's rocket explosion.
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded during a static fire test Thursday night at Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, sending a fireball into the sky and shaking homes along Florida’s Space Coast.
No injuries were reported, but the incident marks another setback for the heavy-lift rocket program that is expected to support future commercial satellite launches and NASA lunar missions.
Blue Origin rocket explosion latest
What we know:
The explosion occurred during a hot-fire, or static fire, test of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket ahead of a planned launch next week carrying Amazon Kuiper internet satellites.
Blue Origin confirmed an "anomaly" occurred during the test and said all personnel were accounted for and safe. Emergency crews responded to the launch complex, but officials said there was no danger to the surrounding community from fire, fumes or other hazards.
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Blue Origin New Glenn rocket explodes on launch pad
Captain Winston Scott, a retired Navy Captain and former NASA astronaut, talks about the explosion of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket Thursday night during a static test flight at Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Residents in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach reported hearing and feeling the blast around 9 p.m. Local social media channels quickly filled with photos and videos showing a large orange fireball rising from the launch site.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency is coordinating with Blue Origin and other partners to investigate the incident and determine whether it could affect future missions.
Rocket debris could wash ashore, could pose health risks
Officials with Cape Canaveral Space Force Station warned that debris from Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket explosion could wash up on Florida's beaches. Do not touch it.
That debris could be "hazardous and direct contact could pose health risks," officials said in a news release.
No threat to the public
In a post on X, the Brevard County Emergency Management Office said there was no threat to the public as a result of the rocket explosion.
What we don't know:
Investigators have not identified the cause of the explosion.
It remains unclear how much damage was done to the launch pad, support infrastructure or the rocket itself. Officials have not said whether the planned launch of Amazon's Kuiper satellites will be delayed or canceled.
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket explodes during testing on Thursday, May 28, 2026. [Credit: Devin Orourad]
NASA also has not determined whether the incident could affect future Artemis lunar exploration missions or other programs that may rely on New Glenn's heavy-lift capabilities.
Blue Origin has not released a timeline for completing its investigation or returning the rocket to flight status.
The backstory:
New Glenn is Blue Origin's flagship orbital rocket and represents the company's effort to compete directly with SpaceX and other launch providers in the commercial and government spaceflight markets.
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Blue Origin rocket explodes during test: What happened?
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket appears to have exploded Thursday night during a static fire test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Zac Aubert, a space expert, talks with FOX 35 about what potentially happened and what happens in the minutes, hours, and days after Thursday's test and explosion.
Standing 321 feet (98 meters) tall, the rocket is named after astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. The vehicle first flew in 2025 and is designed to carry large satellites, national security payloads and lunar mission hardware.
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The rocket already faced challenges earlier this year. In April, a New Glenn mission suffered an engine-related problem that left a satellite in an incorrect orbit, grounding the vehicle while engineers worked to address the issue.
Blue Origin plans to use New Glenn for future NASA-related missions, including launches connected to lunar exploration efforts.
Local perspective:
The explosion was immediately felt across portions of Brevard County, where rocket launches are a regular part of daily life.
Residents reported homes rattling from the blast, while beachgoers and nearby communities watched the fireball from across the Space Coast. Launch Complex 36 is visible from portions of Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach, making the incident highly visible to the public.
Despite the dramatic scene, local emergency management officials emphasized there was no threat to public safety and no reported injuries.
What they're saying:
Blue Origin acknowledged the test failure but said the company is focused on determining what happened and returning to flight.
"We experienced an anomaly during today's hot-fire test. We will provide updates as we learn more," the company said and later emphasized that all workers were safe.
Statement from Jeff Bezos
Blue Origin's owner, Jeff Bezos, said it is too early to determine the cause of the incident but that an investigation is already underway.
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Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket explodes during static fire test
Blue Origin said all personnel have been accounted for and are safe following the explosion of a New Glenn rocket during a static fire test at Kennedy Space Center.
"All personnel are accounted for and safe," Bezos posted on X. "It’s too early to know the root cause, but we’re already working to find it."
The company acknowledged the setback but said it remains committed to the program.
"Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying," the statement said. "It’s worth it."
NASA monitoring impacts
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency is working with Blue Origin and other partners following an explosion involving a New Glenn rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
In a statement, Isaacman said NASA is aware of the anomaly that occurred at Launch Complex 36 and will support a full investigation into the incident.
"Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult," Isaacman said. "We will work with our partners to support a thorough investigation of this anomaly, assess near-term mission impacts, and get back to launching rockets."
Isaacman said NASA is evaluating any potential effects the incident could have on upcoming missions and long-term exploration goals.
The agency said it will provide updates on any impacts to the Artemis program and Moon Base initiatives as more information becomes available.
The explosion occurred during a static fire test of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket ahead of a planned launch. Blue Origin said all personnel were accounted for and safe, and local officials reported no injuries or threat to the public. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Space Force statement
Space Launch Delta 45, which oversees the Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center, said emergency responders quickly responded to the scene
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Blue Origin rocket explodes during test: 'It looked almost like an Atomic bomb'
Blue Origin experienced an "anomaly" during a static test on Thursday night at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Blue Origin said all of its people were confirmed and that there were no injuries reported. There is no threat to the general public, according to the Brevard County Office of Emergency Management. Space expert David Denault, host of About Space Today, talked with FOX 35 moments after the explosion happened and reporrs surfaced. "I've never seen anything like this," he said. "This is more than spectacular. It looked almost like an Atomic bomb"
"Range officials, in coordination with Blue Origin and appropriate partners, are currently evaluating available data to determine the exact cause of the anomaly."
Space Launch Delta 45 emphasized that the incident has not affected operations elsewhere on the Eastern Range.
"The Eastern Range remains fully mission capable for National Security Space Launch and continues to support operations at all other launch complexes."
The statement also noted that testing advanced launch systems carries inherent risks.
"These operations often involve developmental systems and emerging technologies, and the nature of such testing carries inherent risk, including the potential for anomalies."
Congressman Haridopolos responds
U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos said he has spoken with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman following the explosion of a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket during testing at Kennedy Space Center.
"I’ve already spoken with @NASAAdmin [NASA Administrator] Jared Isaacman regarding the explosion of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket tonight at Kennedy Space Center," Haridopolos said. "I am grateful there were no reported injuries and thankful for the first responders, engineers, and launch crews who acted quickly."
Brevard County sheriff: 'Ready to assist'
In a statement sent to FOX 35 News, emergency management and fire rescue officials said that the current plan is to allow the contained fire caused by the explosion to burn itself out.
"Our agency, as well as the Brevard County Emergency Management and Brevard County Fire Rescue, are monitoring the incident and stand ready to assist should the need arise," Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey added.
Big picture view:
The explosion is a significant setback for Blue Origin as it seeks to establish New Glenn as a major competitor in the growing heavy-lift launch market.
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The rocket is central to Blue Origin's ambitions in commercial satellite deployment, national security launches and NASA's long-term lunar exploration plans. While officials have stressed that no one was injured and no public danger exists, the incident raises new questions about the rocket's readiness as Blue Origin attempts to scale up operations and compete in an increasingly crowded space industry.
The Source: This story was written based on information shared by Brevard County emergency officials, Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, and from reporting by the Associated Press.