VANCOUVER, B.C., CANADA – I was interviewed live on WESH 2 NBC News Orlando about Blue Origin New Glenn rocket explosion during static fire test late in the evening on May 28, 2026 at pad 36, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station during their 10 p.m., ET news show – while I was traveling in Vancouver, B.C. Canada
“It is a catastrophic event and very bad for Blue Origin,” I told WESH 2 NBC News Orlando, at the start of the over 13 minute long live interview
“They were loading propellant into the rocket, and they started a static fire test, which is not a launch; the rocket is sitting on the pad, and they want to ignite the engines for several seconds to test them all out and make sure everything will work when they do the launch in the next few weeks. That was the plan,” I said.
The interview took place on May 28, 2026 barely 2 hours after the disastrous explosion took place around 9 p.m. ET just after the start of a hold down static fire test with ignition of the seven first stage BE-4 engines at Space Launch Complex-26 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
The first stage and second stage and transporter erector (TE) were completely destroyed and the pad infrastructure also suffered significant damage.
Within 20 minutes of the explosion I was called by phone for interview requests by multiple TV media outlets for my commentary on the impacts and aftermath – including WFTV ABC News Orlando, Fox 35 Orlando, BBC World News, Orlando Business Journal
Watch my complete live commentary on WESH 2 NBC News Orlando 10 p.m and later news shows here
https://youtu.be/Xfpxv–_HfE?si=4j8JrJLiq-HNME5a
Caption: Space expert Ken Kremer discusses Blue Origin explosion on Florida’s Space Coast on May 28, 2026 live on WESH 2 NBC News Orlando
The static fire tests are routinely done. But they are never routine
The purpose is to check out the engine and all the rocket systems to ensure they will function properly during a real launch attempt.
Check these links for another story with my live interview and commentary about the explosion
https://www.wjcl.com/article/blue-origin-rocket-explosion/71437914
https://www.wesh.com/article/blue-origin-rocket-explosion-florida/71440610
This was to be the 4th New Glenn rocket launch and its was slated to carry a batch of Amazon Leo broadband internet satellites to LEO as soon as Thursday, June 4.
Blue Origin is founded and owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos
Blue Origin and Jeff Bezos Statements:
“We experienced an anomaly during today’s hotfire test. All personnel have been accounted for. We will provide updates as we learn more.” Blue Origin posted May 28
“All personnel are accounted for and safe. It’s too early to know the root cause but we’re already working to find it. Very rough day, but we’ll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It’s worth it,” Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos posted on X.
The prior New Glenn mission NG-3 blasted off on April 19, 2026
Ken Kremer recent TV interviews
May 28: Fox 35 Orlando
https://youtu.be/P1Tzsg9WTS4?si=KkM7r2TBYNz8taTB
Caption: Space expert on Blue Origin explosion: ‘They will recover’. Space expert Ken Kremer, founder of Space UpClose, said there are a lot of smart people working on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. He said Thursday night’s [May 28] test failure may shake credibility in the short term, but “they will recover.” “They will recover. You can’t just give up when something goes wrong. But it also means you have to redouble your efforts,” he said during the Fox 35 Orlando 11 p.m ET live news show. Credit: Fox 35 Orlando
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