Blue Origin rocket explodes during test in Florida.

VTV.vn - The Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded during a test in Florida (USA), raising concerns about the progress of NASA's lunar programs.

(Photo: AP)

The Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded during a test at Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, at approximately 9 PM on May 28 (local time).

Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, said the incident occurred during a "hotfire" test – a type of engine test where the rocket is stationary on a launch pad, used to check the systems before flight. The company called the incident an "unusual incident" and affirmed that all personnel were safe.

Jeff Bezos wrote on social media that it was too early to determine the root cause, but Blue Origin had begun an investigation. "It's been a tough day, but we'll rebuild what needs rebuilding and keep flying," Bezos said.

The Blue Origin New Glenn rocket at Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, April 18, 2026.

The Blue Origin New Glenn rocket explodes during an engine test at Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, on May 28, 2026. (Photo: AP)

Images captured at Cape Canaveral show a large fireball engulfing the launch pad area. Several residents near Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach reported their homes shaking after the explosion. Emergency officials said there was no risk from smoke or other hazards.

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has stated that it is aware of the incident involving the New Glenn rocket. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman noted that space flight is always demanding and developing heavy launch capabilities is a very difficult task. NASA will coordinate with partners to assist in the investigation and assess the immediate impact on related missions.

( Video : AP)

The explosion occurred amidst Blue Origin's competition with SpaceX for contracts to support NASA's Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and develop lunar missions in the coming years. New Glenn is the rocket family that Blue Origin plans to use to launch lunar landers for NASA.

Previously, New Glenn experienced a malfunction during its third mission in April, when the rocket's upper stage failed to place AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 satellite into a safe orbit. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) subsequently launched an investigation. According to the FAA, the May 28 test was outside the scope of operations authorized by the agency and did not affect aviation operations.

Blue Origin has not announced when New Glenn can return to operation. It is unclear how this latest incident will affect NASA's lunar plans and the company's space ambitions.

Source: https://vtv.vn/ten-lua-blue-origin-phat-no-khi-thu-nghiem-o-florida-100260529161117255.htm