A Blue Origin rocket exploded during an engine-firing test at the launch pad on Thursday night, shaking nearby homes and briefly illuminating the sky with an orange glow. The incident occurred at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Launch Complex 36, where Jeff Bezos' company was conducting a hotfire test of its New Glenn rocket.
Explosion Details
Around 9 p.m., residents in Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach reported feeling their homes shake, prompting many to take to social media to inquire about the cause. The explosion was visible from the beach, and images of a large orange fireball quickly circulated online. Emergency officials confirmed there was no threat from fumes or other hazards.
Blue Origin acknowledged the incident in a brief statement: "We experienced an anomaly during today's hotfire test. We will provide updates as we learn more." The company also confirmed that all personnel have been accounted for, with no injuries reported.
New Glenn's Troubled History
The New Glenn rocket, named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, made its debut in 2025 from Cape Canaveral. However, it has faced challenges. In April 2026, the rocket was grounded after a mission where it left a satellite in the wrong orbit due to an engine failure. That flight was only the third for the rocket, which Blue Origin intends to use for NASA missions, including launching landers to the moon.
The explosion marks a significant setback for Blue Origin, which has been striving to compete with other private space companies like SpaceX. The company has not yet announced a timeline for when it will resume testing or provide further details on the cause of the anomaly.
This report includes information from the Associated Press.
