See Biggest Rocket Explosion For 69 Years In Setback For Blue Origin

InnovationScienceSee Biggest Rocket Explosion For 69 Years In Setback For Blue OriginByJamie Carter,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. An award-winning reporter writing about stargazing and the night sky.Follow AuthorMay 29, 2026, 04:19am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket explodes during an engine-firing test on Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (@JConcilus via AP)Associated PressA rocket being tested by Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin dramatically exploded on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday night. It comes just days after NASA awarded Blue Origin multiple contracts to launch payloads to the lunar surface in support of NASA’s moonbase program as the space agency attempts to create a permanent lunar base.The explosion occurred at 9 p.m. EDT on Thursday, May 28, during a static test fire of Blue Origin’s New Glenn NG-4 super heavy lift rocket, named for NASA astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. It occurred on launch pad LC-36A while the rocket’s first stage was full of liquid methane. No one was injured.X (Formerly Twitter)NSF - NASASpaceflight.com on X (formerly Twitter): "Blue Origin's New Glenn just blew up at LC-36 while attempting to Static Fire ahead of NG-4.https://t.co/tANS0dWyIH pic.twitter.com/PztxFoBqIw / X"Huge FireballThe huge fireball was captured by NASA Spaceflight.com. It was perhaps the most powerful rocket explosion since the Soviet Union’s N1 rocket in 1957, according to Ars Technica.“All personnel are accounted for and safe,” Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and Blue Origin, posted on X. “It’s too early to know the root cause, but we’re already working to find it. Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it.”MORE FOR YOUThe rocket had been due to launch 48 satellite...