Blue Origin wanted to take a big bite out of SpaceX in 2026. A fireball in Cape Canaveral just changed that

Blue Origin’s New Glenn exploded during a hot-fire ground test at Cape Canaveral, creating a major setback for the company.

No injuries were reported, but the blast destroyed the test pad and is likely to delay upcoming launch plans.

The failure weakens Blue Origin’s effort to challenge SpaceX in the commercial launch market.

The disruption could also affect work linked to NASA’s Artemis program and Amazon’s satellite network.

An FAA investigation is expected as the company assesses the damage and next steps.