Blue Origin’s New Glenn explosion is a setback for NASA’s Moon plans | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Blue Origin explosion is a major setback for NASA’s Moon plans and Amazon’s Starlink competitorNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...ScienceCloseSciencePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ScienceNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechBlue Origin explosion is a major setback for NASA’s Moon plans and Amazon’s Starlink competitorNew Glenn’s only launchpad could take months to repair.New Glenn’s only launchpad could take months to repair.by Thomas RickerCloseThomas RickerDeputy EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Thomas RickerMay 29, 2026, 8:03 AM UTCLinkShareGiftNew Glenn rocket explodes at Launch Complex 36 on Thursday night in Florida. Image: Spaceflight NowThomas RickerCloseThomas RickerPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Thomas Ricker is a deputy editor and Verge co-founder with a passion for human-centric cities, e-bikes, and life as a digital nomad. He’s been a tech journalist for 20 years.While Blue Origin investigates the root cause behind last night’s spectacular explosion of its New Glenn rocket, it’s already clear that this will be a major setback for NASA’s Moon base plans and Amazon’s fledgling Leo space internet constellation.The incident occurred at about 9pm at Blue Origin’s Florida launch site during a hot-fire test, where seven engines in the booster stage are lit while keeping the 322-foot-tall rocket fixed to the launchpad. The explosion and ensuing fireball severely damaged the only launchpad Blue Origin has for its New Glenn rocket.“It’s too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it,” wrote Blue Origin boss Jeff Bezos on X. “Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it.”According to sources speaking to Ars Technica, the transporter-erector and one of the lightning towers at LC-36A may not be salvageable. “New Glenn almost certainly will not launch again in 2026, and frankly a launch during the first half of 2027 would be heroic given the launch site concerns,” writes Eric Berger, senior space editor at Ars Technica.Such a delay would affect NASA’s Moon base plans. NASA announced on Tuesday that New Glenn would deliver a robotic lunar lander as soon as fall 2026. In 2027, Blue Origin is also scheduled to participate in the upcoming Artemis III mission, which will see astronauts docking their Orion capsule with lunar landers developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin.“Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult,” said NASA administrator Jared Isaacman on X. “We will work with our partners to support a thorough investigation of this anomaly, assess near-term mission impacts, and get back to launching rockets.”The New Glenn rocket that exploded Thursday night was being prepped to carry 48 Amazon Leo satellites — the largest batch ever slated for a single launch — into low-Earth orbit on an upcoming mission. The satellites were not onboard.To date Amazon has launched just over 300 of the 1,618 Leo satellites the FCC requires by July 30, 2026. Amazon has applied for an extension to keep its license.Amazon had been counting on New Glenn’s massive payload capacity and reusable boosters to accelerate a launch schedule that is already behind. Without its primary workhorse, Amazon will be forced to rely more heavily on secondary providers like United Launch Alliance (ULA) and Arianespace — and its chief rival, SpaceX.“Sorry to see this,” wrote fellow billionaire spaceman Elon Musk on X. “I hope you recover quickly.”Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Thomas RickerCloseThomas RickerDeputy EditorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Thomas RickerAmazonCloseAmazonPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AmazonBlue OriginCloseBlue OriginPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Blue OriginNASACloseNASAPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NASANewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsScienceCloseSciencePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All ScienceSpaceCloseSpacePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All SpaceTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularKia’s flagship EV has a battery problemThe golden age of handheld gaming is already overValve raises Steam Deck prices by more than $200They’ve finally made the Oura Ring smaller and lighterWhat’s next for Microsoft’s Surface PCs?The Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in ScienceRoids were all the rage at the Enhanced GamesHere’s how Google is responding to Fitbit users who don’t like the new Health appNASA’s permanent Moon base plans start with three missions this yearGoogle Health is here, but a lot of people want their Fitbit app back insteadAmerican Airlines is getting Starlink Wi-FiA battery-powered Starlink Mini is likely on the wayRoids were all the rage at the Enhanced GamesVictoria SongMay 27Here’s how Google is responding to Fitbit users who don’t like the new Health appStevie BonifieldMay 27NASA’s permanent Moon base plans start with three missions this yearStevie BonifieldMay 26Google Health is here, but a lot of people want their Fitbit app back insteadStevie BonifieldMay 26American Airlines is getting Starlink Wi-FiAndrew J. HawkinsMay 26A battery-powered Starlink Mini is likely on the wayThomas RickerMay 26Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop StoriesMay 28The golden age of handheld gaming is already overMay 28Kia’s flagship EV has a battery problemMay 27Roids were all the rage at the Enhanced GamesMay 28They’ve finally made the Oura Ring smaller and lighterMay 27The AI fight brewing inside The New York Times2:15 AM UTCBlue Origin’s New Glenn rocket just blew up during testing in Florida.The VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2026 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights ReservedNotifications DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Sign in to see your notifications or create an account to join the conversation.Sign in

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket experienced an explosion while undergoing a hot-fire test at Launch Complex 36 in Florida, which is poised to cause significant repercussions for both NASA's lunar objectives and Amazon's satellite constellation plans. The incident involved the ignition of seven engines in the booster stage while the 322-foot-tall rocket was secured to the launchpad, resulting in severe damage to the sole launchpad Blue Origin possesses for the New Glenn vehicle. While Blue Origin's CEO Jeff Bezos indicated a resolve to rebuild and resume operations, sources suggest that critical infrastructure, such as the transporter-erector and one of the lightning towers at LC-36A, may be unsalvageable. This damage introduces substantial uncertainty regarding future launch schedules, with one source estimating that New Glenn will likely not launch again in 2026, and any launch attempt in the first half of 2027 would depend heavily on resolving the launch site concerns.

This disruption directly impacts NASA's timelines, as New Glenn was intended to deliver a robotic lunar lander as early as the fall of 2026, and Blue Origin is scheduled to participate in the Artemis III mission in 2027. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman highlighted the inherent difficulty in developing new heavy-lift launch capabilities, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation into the anomaly and an assessment of near-term mission impacts before resuming rocket launches. Furthermore, the failed test affected Amazon's ambitious plan to deploy a large batch of 48 Amazon Leo satellites on the New Glenn, a launch that was intended to accelerate their schedule. Without the New Glenn vehicle, Amazon will be compelled to depend more heavily on alternative providers such as United Launch Alliance, Arianespace, and SpaceX. Elon Musk expressed hope for a swift recovery from the incident.