Blue Origin Rocket Erupts in Massive Fireball

A rocket developed by Blue Origin exploded in a dramatic fireball during a ground test at a launch pad in Cape Canaveral late Thursday, though no injuries were reported.

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Video from the scene showed the rocket erupting into flames during what the company described as a “hotfire test” ahead of a planned launch. The blast engulfed the launch area in a large plume of fire and smoke.

Blue Origin later confirmed on social media that it had “experienced an anomaly” during testing and said all personnel had been accounted for safely.

Safety response

The explosion happened at about 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT Friday), according to local authorities. Brevard County Emergency Management said there was no threat to the public.

Company founder Jeff Bezos said all workers were safe and that an investigation into the cause was already under way.

“It’s too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it,” Bezos wrote online. “Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it.”

The United States Space Force said emergency crews responded to the scene and officials were reviewing available data to determine what caused the incident.

Investigation under way

The test was being carried out before an upcoming mission, although the company has not released further details about the rocket involved.

Jared Isaacman, head of NASA, said spaceflight development remained highly challenging and pledged support for the investigation.

“Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult,” Isaacman wrote on X. He added that officials would assess possible impacts on future missions before launches resume.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it was aware of the explosion but noted the test did not fall under activities requiring an FAA licence. The agency also said there was no disruption to air traffic.

Recent setbacks

The incident marks another setback for Blue Origin’s launch programme.

Last month, the company’s New Glenn rocket was grounded after regulators ordered an investigation into a failed satellite mission. Blue Origin had attempted to place a satellite for AST SpaceMobile into orbit but was unable to deliver it to the intended trajectory.

Despite recent problems, the company achieved a milestone last November when it successfully launched a New Glenn rocket from Florida and landed its reusable booster for the first time.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 29 May 2026