Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin experienced a critical setback on Thursday, May 28, 2026, when its New Glenn rocket exploded during a static fire test at Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral. The incident occurred just before the fourth New Glenn flight (NG-4), which was scheduled to carry Amazon Leo internet satellites.

The company confirmed an anomaly on social media, stating all personnel were accounted for and that it would provide updates as more details emerged. Blue Origin’s public statement read: “We experienced an anomaly during today’s hotfire test. All personnel have been accounted for. We will provide updates as we learn more.”

This failure follows a previous New Glenn issue in April when a mission failed to place a satellite into its intended orbit. The incident disrupts Blue Origin’s 2026 launch schedule, which it had targeted at up to 12 flights after nearly a decade of development.

The New Glenn rocket also supports NASA’s Artemis program and lunar missions, meaning any delay could impact multiple space initiatives. Jeff Bezos addressed the situation publicly on Friday, May 29, stating: “All personnel are accounted for and safe. It’s too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it. Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying.”

Blue Origin remains focused on resolving the issue while ensuring the safety of its operations.