Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is assessing damage to its Florida launch pad after a rocket exploded during a test firing.

During an evening test fire on May 28, 2026, a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded, engulfing the launchpad in a massive fireball. The spectacular fire, caught on video, not only destroyed the rocket but also appears to have significantly damaged Blue Origin’s only launchpad at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

An uncrewed Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded on a Florida launchpad during a test on Thursday, in a major setback for Jeff Bezos’ space venture as it seeks to narrow the gap with Elon Musk’s IPO-bound SpaceX.

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during a Florida prelaunch test. Here's why the incident may impact NASA's Artemis program.