The most spectacular rocket explosion since N1 just happened in Florida
Recorded: May 29, 2026, 4 a.m.
| Original | Summarized |
The most spectacular rocket explosion since N1 just happened in Florida - Ars Technica Skip to content Ars Technica home Sections Forum Subscribe Search AI Biz & IT Cars Culture Gaming Health Policy Science Security Space Tech Feature Reviews AI Biz & IT Cars Culture Gaming Health Policy Science Security Space Tech Forum Subscribe Story text Size Small Width Standard Links Standard * Subscribers only Pin to story Theme HyperLight Day & Night Dark System Search Sign In This is very, very bad The most spectacular rocket explosion since N1 just happened in Florida New Glenn was due to play a starring role in NASA’s Artemis Program. Eric Berger May 28, 2026 10:21 pm | 98 Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
Text Story text Size Small Width Standard Links Standard * Subscribers only Minimize to nav On Thursday evening Blue Origin attempted to test fire its massive New Glenn rocket at its Florida launch site, but something went very wrong after engine ignition. The super heavy lift rocket exploded in spectacular and disastrous fashion. 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 There was no immediate indication as to what caused the rocket to fail during the initial stages of the static fire test. The failure originated with the first stage of the rocket, which is powered by seven BE-4 engines. Sources said the problem appeared to start in the engine section of the vehicle. The company has launched New Glenn three times, during each of which the first stage performed well. The company had already demonstrated the ability to land the New Glenn first stage, and impressively reused it in April for the first time. Then there is the larger Blue Moon Mark 2 lander, which is due to fly on a larger and more powerful version of the New Glenn rocket with nine first stage engines, known as 9×4. NASA is counting on the Mark 2 lander, alongside SpaceX’s Starship vehicle, to carry humans to the Moon on a regular basis—and soon. Eric Berger Eric Berger Eric Berger is the senior space editor at Ars Technica, covering everything from astronomy to private space to NASA policy, and author of two books: Liftoff, about the rise of SpaceX; and Reentry, on the development of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon. A certified meteorologist, Eric lives in Houston. 98 Comments Comments Forum view Loading comments... Prev story Most Read 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Customize Ars Technica has been separating the signal from More Contact Manage Preferences |
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket experienced a spectacular and disastrous explosion during a static fire test at its Florida launch site, which was noted as the most dramatic event since the Soviet Union's N1 rocket failure in 1969. The failure originated with the first stage of the rocket, which utilizes seven BE-4 engines, with the problem appearing to stem from the engine section of the vehicle. Although no injuries were reported, the event caused extensive damage to the company's launch site infrastructure, marking it as the worst disaster in Blue Origin's history. This setback occurred at the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, while the static fire test was being filmed. Despite prior successes, including successful first-stage landings and reuses of the New Glenn stage, this event further complicates the company's trajectory, especially as it was poised to accelerate its launch cadence. The failure has significant implications for NASA's ongoing efforts to establish a lunar base, as New Glenn is intended to deliver lunar rovers and is part of the architecture for the larger Blue Moon Mark 2 lander, which NASA counts on alongside SpaceX Starship to facilitate regular human transport to the Moon. The physical damage extends to the launch infrastructure at LC-36A, with reports suggesting that critical facilities, such as lightning towers and the transporter-erector, may be severely damaged. While Blue Origin has initiated construction on an alternative launch site, LC-36B, concerns remain about the timeline for rebuilding the primary facility, potentially delaying future launches. The company is currently focusing its efforts on developing the larger 9x4 rocket variant, which is expected to become the workhorse of their future fleet, rather than the smaller variant that failed. Fortunately, the financial backing provided by Jeff Bezos allows Blue Origin to sustain recovery efforts and accelerate its rebuilding process, while NASA will likely remain keenly interested in the company's recovery. As a minor positive note, the payload, consisting of Amazon Leo internet satellites, remained safe in a nearby integration facility. |