The powerful heavy-lift rocket “New Glenn” from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin exploded before a planned launch.
May 29, 2026, 06:39May 29, 2026, 06:45
During a routine test of the unmanned rocket at the Cape Canaveral spaceport in the US state of Florida, a large explosion including a huge fireball could be seen on a live stream.
There was an “irregularity” during the test, Blue Origin announced on the X platform. “No employees are missing. As soon as we know more, we will pass on the information.” Billionaire Bezos wrote on X that investigations into the cause of the accident were already underway. «Very hard day, but we will rebuild whatever needs to be rebuilt and we will fly again. It’s worth it,” he wrote.
Jeff Bezos wants to rebuild the “New Glenn”.Image: keystone
During the test, engines should fire, but the rocket should not start
During the test before the planned fourth launch of the “New Glenn”, the engines were to be ignited, but the rocket was to remain on the ground. According to media reports, the launch was originally planned for next week at the earliest. The rocket was intended to launch 48 satellites for Amazon’s satellite internet system.
With the “New Glenn,” Blue Origin wants to compete with tech billionaire Elon Musk’s company SpaceX, which currently dominates commercial space travel. The explosion is a major setback. “Extremely unfortunate,” commented competitor Musk on a video of the explosion on the X platform. “Rockets are difficult.”
NASA supports investigation
The US space agency NASA will support an investigation into the incident and then inform about possible effects on its own programs, wrote NASA boss Jared Isaacman on X. NASA is working with BlueOrigin on its moon program.
The “New Glenn” rocket – named after John Glenn (1921-2016), the first American to orbit the Earth in a spaceship – made it straight into space on its first flight in January 2025. On the second flight around ten months later, the rocket carried two Mars orbiters from the US space agency Nasa into space. The third launch in April also worked, but a satellite was then placed in the wrong orbit. (sda/dpa)