The U.S. Space Force confirmed no injuries occurred during the June 1 explosion of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket at Launch Complex 36 near Cape Canaveral. Col. Sanika Patel, a Space Force official, said during a virtual news conference Tuesday that all personnel were accounted for and that crews were still battling small brush fires near the launch pad as of Saturday. The incident happened during a test fire of the rocket’s first stage, which was being prepared for its debut launch later this year. Blue Origin’s CEO had previously announced the company would rebuild and relaunch by the end of 2026.
The explosion damaged parts of the launch complex, but officials said safety control of the site was returned to Blue Origin on Sunday afternoon. The company then began 24/7 operations to assess the damage and prepare for repairs. Blue Origin’s social media account, managed by engineer Dave LIV, posted updates over the weekend stating that key structures at the pad—including liquid hydrogen and liquefied natural gas systems—were in good condition.
The incident occurred just days after Blue Origin announced plans to resume launches from the site by year’s end. The company has not yet disclosed the cause of the explosion, though investigators are reviewing data from the test fire. The Space Force said it is cooperating fully with Blue Origin’s efforts to rebuild the facility.
Residents near the launch complex reported seeing a bright flash and a loud boom around 7:30 p.m. on June 1, but no injuries were reported in the surrounding area. Blue Origin’s rebuild timeline remains unchanged, with the company aiming to complete repairs and conduct a test launch by December. The Space Force reiterated that the incident did not affect other operations at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.