A hotfire test of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on May 28, 2026, sending flames and smoke visible from south Cocoa Beach. The incident occurred after 9 p.m. Thursday, according to photos taken by Florida Today photographer Malcolm Denemark. The explosion was captured in multiple images showing the launch pad engulfed in fire and a mushroom-shaped cloud rising over Merritt Island.
The anomaly happened during a test at the New Glenn launch pad, a site under development for future launches. A separate photo from the same evening, provided by Phil Stasik, shows the same location with smoke billowing into the sky. Blue Origin has not released a public statement about the cause of the explosion, but officials at Cape Canaveral confirmed the incident involved a technical malfunction during the test.
Residents in nearby areas reported seeing the flames from Cocoa Beach, with some describing the event as sudden and loud. The explosion occurred shortly after 9 p.m., disrupting local wildlife and prompting emergency crews to monitor the site. No injuries were reported, and the fire was contained within the launch pad area.
Additional images from the event, including a shot taken by Reuters photographer Courtney Blair, show the rocket's launch pad in flames from multiple angles. The photos highlight the scale of the explosion, with debris visible in the background. Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, designed for heavy-lift missions, had been undergoing testing at the site since late 2025.
The incident raises questions about the timeline for the New Glenn's first launch, which was previously scheduled for early 2027. Engineers are expected to conduct a full investigation, but no updates on the test's outcome have been shared publicly as of Friday morning.