{"id":2262,"date":"2026-05-31T14:06:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T14:06:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=2262"},"modified":"2026-05-31T14:06:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-31T14:06:54","slug":"blue-origin-gets-closer-look-at-new-glenn-launch-pad-damage-after-explosion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=2262","title":{"rendered":"Blue Origin gets closer look at New Glenn launch pad damage after explosion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blue Origin officials were able to get a closer look at the massive damage caused by a devastating explosion of its New Glenn rocket at its Cape Canaveral launch site on Saturday.<\/p>

Read more A rematch of 1999: It\u2019s Spurs vs. Knicks for NBA title, after teams met in NBA Cup final as well<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have regained some access to Launch Complex 36 and are actively investigating the hotfire anomaly,\u201d CEO Dave Limp said. \u201cWe will start clearing the pad soon and have a good rebuild plan in place.\u201d<\/p>\n

A static fire test of a New Glenn rocket that was being performed in preparation for what would have been\u00a0 the rocket\u2019s fourth-ever flight, resulted in an explosive fireball that could be seen from Orlando and measured 2.5 on the Richter\u00a0scale, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. While no one was injured in the incident, much of the launch pad and some of the surrounding infrastructure was destroyed.<\/p>\n

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Here’s our video of the explosion at Launch Complex 36. It happened about 9 pm ET (0100 UTC) as Blue Origin was beginning a static fire test of its New Glenn rocket.<\/p>\n

Watch live views: https:\/\/t.co\/tm2wZQmAVD pic.twitter.com\/PmbgQC6Qmq<\/p>\n

\u2014 Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) May 29, 2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Images of the launch complex the day after the explosion showed that one of the two lightning towers on the site had crumbled, and were among the debris piles that included the rocket as well as the transporter erector tower that had been holding it in place.<\/p>

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Limp noted some good news, though. Within the close-by integration facility, a building just adjacent to the launch pad, the company\u2019s remaining rocket hardware, including the first-stage booster that flew on the company\u2019s second and third missions, as well as some second stages for its massive rocket \u201cappear healthy from quick looks.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Grateful that all personnel were safe during last nights New Glenn anomaly. That\u2019s the most important thing. Now, let\u2019s send our best wishes to Blue Origin employees as they work to assess the situation, determine what went wrong, and with time, rebuild.\ud83d\udcf8 @NASASpaceflight pic.twitter.com\/q1PVX63nLI<\/p>\n

\u2014 D Wise (@dwisecinema) May 29, 2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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The static fire test also did not include the payload that was supposed to fly on the rocket\u2019s upcoming mission. The NG-4 flight had been on the schedule for as soon as next week to fly up 48 satellites for Amazon. Those remain unharmed. The mission would have been the first of 24 contracted flights by Blue Origin to proliferate the Amazon Leo satellite constellation, which is aiming to compete with the likes of SpaceX\u2019s Starlink system.<\/p>\n

Those missions are delayed indefinitely, though, as Blue Origin has no other New Glenn launch site other than LC-36.<\/p>\n