Blue Origin's rocket exploded right on the launch pad.

The New Glenn rocket experienced a malfunction right on the launch pad. Photo: The Independent .

A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded on the launch pad at the launch complex near Cape Canaveral, Florida, on the evening of May 28 (US time) while preparing for an upcoming mission. Video from the NSF aerospace tracking site captured the rocket exploding into a massive column of fire right on the launch pad.

No casualties were reported. Rescue teams arrived on the scene immediately after the incident. A spokesperson for the U.S. Space Force, the agency overseeing the area, confirmed that all personnel were safe and military officials are working with Blue Origin to investigate the cause.

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Blue Origin, confirmed on social media that the team had a really tough day. He said the company would rebuild after the explosion.

This damage is particularly serious because the affected launch pad is the only location Blue Origin can use to launch its New Glenn rocket. This means the company's entire launch schedule will be disrupted until the facility is repaired.

The most severely affected mission was Amazon's Project Kuiper, carrying 48 internet satellites. Just one day before the incident, the e-commerce giant announced on social media that the satellites had been loaded onto the rocket for the upcoming flight. This mission will certainly be delayed. Other flights, including NASA missions, are also at risk of being postponed.

The explosion occurred at a time when Blue Origin was trying to regain momentum after a series of setbacks. New Glenn made its first commercial flight earlier this year but did not perform as expected, causing an AST SpaceMobile satellite to be misplaced.

The New Glenn rocket was first launched last year. In November 2025, Blue Origin demonstrated its ability to recover the booster stage for reuse, a key milestone in its strategy to compete with SpaceX. This latest explosion sends the company back to square one in its efforts to build operational credibility.

Explosions on launch pads are rare but represent a costly risk that all space companies face. SpaceX also experienced a similar incident when a Starship exploded during a ground test in June 2025.

Source: https://znews.vn/ten-lua-cua-jeff-bezos-phat-no-ngay-tren-be-phong-post1655198.html