Blue Origin’s New Glenn explodes during test and punches a hole in Bezos’s space plan

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket exploded on the evening of 28 May during a static fire test at Cape Canaveral’s LC 36 launch complex in Florida. No one was injured, but the incident hits New Glenn at the worst possible moment. The rocket was meant to send Amazon Leo internet satellites into orbit on 4 June, and Blue Origin also needs the same launcher for NASA’s lunar programme.