Blue Origin rocket explodes on launch pad during engine-firing test

A Blue Origin rocket dramatically exploded on the launch pad during a test on May 28, 2026. Video posted by ‌NASASpaceflight, a YouTube channel that live-streams launches from the US state of Florida, showed the New Glenn rocket igniting on the pad before erupting into a massive explosion, sending a towering plume of flames and smoke into the air. The incident was a setback for Jeff Bezos’ space venture as it seeks to narrow its gap with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Bezos posted on social media that all personnel had been accounted for and that the New Glenn experienced an “anomaly” during the rocket’s hotfire test.