CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - APRIL 19: A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket carrying an AST SpaceMobile Bluebird 7 satellite launches from pad 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on April 19, 2026 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket will carry the second satellite in the AST SpaceMobile next-generation satellite constellation to low Earth orbit. The satellite is designed to support space-based cellular broadband for mobile phones. This is the third launch of a New Glenn rocket. (Photo by Paul Hennesy/Anadolu via Getty Images)
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is assessing damage to its Florida launch pad after a rocket exploded during a test firing. The company fueled the massive New Glenn rocket Thursday night, hoping to briefly ignite the engines ahead of a satellite launch next week. But the 321-foot rocket blew up, taking part of the pad with it. Emergency officials are warning the public to avoid any wreckage that might wash ashore and instead call 911. New Glenn is the rocket that Blue Origin plans to use to launch landers to the moon for NASA.
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