BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – 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.
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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.
Here is the latest.
Live updates on Blue Origin rocket explosion
Developing:
Blue Origin confirmed in a post on X that it “experienced an anomaly “during Thursday night’s “hotfire test.”
It said all personnel have been accounted for and that it would provide updates as teams learned more.
Space Force statement
Space Launch Delta 45, which oversees the Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center, confirmed that the incident occurred during a hot-fire test of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.
“A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket experienced an anomaly at approximately 9:00 p.m. during a hotfire test at Space Launch Complex 36.”
The military unit said emergency responders quickly responded to the scene and that all personnel were safely accounted for.
“All personnel have been accounted for and there were no injuries/fatalities.”
Officials said investigators are working with Blue Origin and other partners to determine what caused the explosion.
“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.”
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.
Statement from Jeff Bezos
Blue Origin’s owner, Jeff Bezos, 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.
In a statement, the company said it is too early to determine the cause of the incident but that an investigation is already underway.
“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.”
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.”
City of Cape Canaveral statement
“The City’s Emergency Operations Team (EOT) is closely monitoring an incident that has occurred at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at Launch Complex 36, involving Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. An explosion occurred on the pad. Staff is in active contact with Canaveral Fire Rescue. According to Blue Origin, all personnel have been accounted for. More information will be relayed via the City’s social media channels as it becomes available.”
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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.
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket explodes during testing on Thursday, May 28, 2026. [Credit: Devin Orourad]
“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 said.
Brevard County Emergency Management: 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 hotfire test. We will provide updates as we learn more,” the company said and later emphasized that all workers were safe. “All personnel are accounted for and safe. It’s too early to know the root cause, but we’re already working to find it.”
Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos signaled confidence in the program despite the setback.
“Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it,” Bezos said.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency will assist with the investigation and evaluate any mission impacts.
“Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult,” Isaacman posted on X. “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.”
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.
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