India, May 29 -- Blue Origin's massive New Glenn rocket exploded into a giant fireball on Thursday night, May 28, 2026, during a static fire engine test at Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. No personnel were injured, as the vehicle was uncrewed and all pad workers were safely accounted for. The failure has caused significant damage to the pad infrastructure which is a major setback for Jeff Bezos' space company.

What Exactly Happened?

The 321-foot mega-rocket was undergoing a routine ground test (a "static fire" or "hotfire" test) when a major failure occurred. Moments after engine ignition began, the rocket suffered an anomaly and burst into an enormous ball of fire, destroying the vehicle.

BREAKING:

Massive explosion by ...