science
New Glenn Test Explosion Delays Blue Origin Launch Plans
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded during an engine test on May 28, 2026, damaging the launch pad and halting near-term Blue Moon lunar missions. NASA had recently awarded Blue Origin contracts to deliver payloads to the lunar surface, but the accident leaves SpaceX as the primary option for Artemis III.
May 30, 6:07 PM·1m read4 sources
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A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded during an engine-firing test on May 28, 2026, at Cape Canaveral. The explosion damaged the launch pad and grounded the vehicle that had been scheduled to conduct a satellite launch the following week. The same rocket was intended to place Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander into lunar transfer orbit for NASA.
Blue Origin had received a contract earlier in May to conduct a Blue Moon demonstration mission carrying NASA payloads this fall.
NASA plans to send astronauts into lunar orbit next year aboard an Orion capsule launched by a Space Launch System rocket. While in orbit, the capsule is to dock with either a SpaceX Starship variant or the Blue Moon lander to complete surface operations.
The New Glenn test explosion occurred after SpaceX completed a largely successful Starship test flight earlier in May. Both vehicles still require additional work before they can support crew-rated lunar missions.
Blue Origin had planned to use New Glenn flights to begin deploying its own low-Earth-orbit communications constellation. The launch-pad damage will require repairs before any satellite missions can proceed. NASA maintains contracts with multiple providers for its Artemis program.
