A Blue Origin hotfire test on May 28 around 9:00 p.m. ET malfunctioned and engulfed a Florida launch pad in flames. The rocket was being prepared to carry 48 satellites for an internet competitor to SpaceX’s Starlink. During the test, seven engines fired in the booster stage while the rest of the rocket remained on the pad. Seconds later, flames rose and quickly enveloped the entire launchpad. The explosion toppled a lightning protection system tower. Blue Origin reported an anomaly during the hotfire test and stated that all personnel were accounted for. The event occurred shortly after NASA awarded a contract worth up to $468 million to Blue Origin for lunar rover missions.
"The explosion occurred around 9:00 p.m. ET on May 28. Blue Origin was preparing a rocket set to carry 48 satellites for Amazon's internet competitor to SpaceX's Starlink, which is owned by Elon Musk, another billionaire who has spent a lot of money to make things blow up. According to The New York Times, the rocket was simply being tested by firing seven of its engines in the booster stage while the rest of it was held on the launch pad. Seconds later the flames began to rise up and soon enveloped the entire launchpad."
"They're calling it the "most dramatic and powerful rocket explosion since the Soviet Union's N1 rocket was destroyed during a launch attempt in 1969." The explosion has toppled the right-hand lightning protection system tower! It's nowhere to be seen. pic.twitter.com/2aXFl2lKy8 - NSF - NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) May 29, 2026"
""We experienced an anomaly during today's hotfire test," Blue Origin announced on X. "All personnel have been accounted for." The premature fireworks happened just days after NASA awarded Bezos' space company a contract worth up to $468 million to take its rovers to the moon. The New Glenn rocket, named after John"
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