Blue Origin suffered a significant setback on Thursday night when its New Glenn mega-rocket exploded during a static fire test at Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. ET as the company prepared for an upcoming mission intended to carry Amazon Leo internet satellites into orbit. While the explosion resulted in the total loss of the vehicle, the company confirmed that all personnel were accounted for and safe.

This failure marks a critical moment for the aerospace firm, which has spent over a decade developing the heavy-lift rocket to compete in the commercial satellite and national security launch markets. The rocket was reportedly fully fueled at the time of the test, leading to a massive blast that now forces an indefinite pause on the New Glenn program. The company has stated that it is currently investigating the root cause of the anomaly and remains committed to rebuilding and returning to flight operations.

Regulatory bodies and government partners are already coordinating to assess the situation. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it is monitoring the event, noting that there was no impact on local air traffic. Meanwhile, NASA has pledged to support a thorough investigation, particularly as the agency evaluates how this incident might affect future Artemis moon missions and other collaborative programs involving Blue Origin’s launch capabilities.

The explosion follows a turbulent period for the New Glenn program, which recently experienced an upper-stage failure during its third flight in April 2026. Despite previous successes, including the successful recovery and reuse of a booster stage, this latest disaster represents a major hurdle for the company’s ambitious goal of conducting 12 launches this year. Industry leaders, including SpaceX’s Elon Musk, acknowledged the difficulty of the endeavor, noting the inherent challenges involved in rocket development.