Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket test at Cape Canaveral culminated in an unexpected explosion, generating infrasound waves that traveled vast distances across the United States. Experts now estimate that the blast unleashed energy comparable to 0.131 kilotons, or roughly 144 tons of TNT.
The incident occurred on May 29 during a static hotfire test at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, just before New Glenn’s anticipated fourth flight. The booster abruptly disintegrated, producing an enormous fireball, sending flaming debris skyward, and briefly illuminating the night.
Thankfully, there were no injuries. However, this event has become recognized as one of the most intense rocket test failures prior to launch, offering scientists an unusual opportunity to analyze how such a massive explosion can be detected remotely by infrasound—low-frequency sound waves that are inaudible to humans.
Explosion’s Shockwave Reached Across the U.S.
Locals near Cape Canaveral experienced the immediate impact of the blast, describing a powerful boom and a strong shockwave. A report from Florida Today noted that the shockwave was felt as far as 135 miles (217 kilometers) away from the launch area.
Further analysis utilized data gathered by specialized monitoring stations nationwide. Published August 12 in The Seismic Record, the study revealed that infrasound signals linked to the explosion were detected at over 36 stations.
The most distant detection came from northeast Texas, where sophisticated instruments caught the low-frequency signals about 1,046 miles (1,684 kilometers) from Cape Canaveral. Although these sounds cannot be heard by the human ear, they were recorded after their long journey through the atmosphere.
Elizabeth Silber, a physicist and planetary scientist at Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, described the incident as “a very rare opportunity to study [the] large real-world energetic event” in detail.
Explosion Energy Surpassed Expectations
Researchers estimated the explosion’s power by examining the frequency of the detected waves and their travel distance. They concluded the blast released energy of 0.131 kilotons, equating to 144 tons of TNT. This figure is notably higher than the energy released during the initial explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, as referenced from a 2009 study on that event.
The study also aimed to determine how much of New Glenn’s cryogenic fuel was involved at the onset of the detonation. Since the exact fuel quantity in the booster was unknown, the team estimated that 3% to 6% of the propellant was consumed in the initial explosion.
While this proportion appears modest compared to the size of the fireball, scientists explained such behavior is typical in significant propellant accidents. The fuel and oxidizer do not always ignite simultaneously, so some material contributes to the initial explosion while other portions burn afterward.
“In a large propellant accident, the fuel and oxidizer do not necessarily mix and react all at once,” Silber said. “Some material can contribute to the initial blast, while other material can burn more gradually in the fireball and the plume.”
Transforming a Test Failure into a Scientific Case Study
Prior to the explosion, New Glenn had successfully completed three missions. Its maiden voyage in January 2025 sent a Blue Origin prototype spacecraft into low Earth orbit. During the November 2025 flight, it delivered two NASA probes headed for Mars and achieved a reusable booster landing, making Blue Origin the second company after SpaceX to reach this milestone.
New Glenn’s return to space on April 19, 2026, ended with a failure to deploy its communications satellite. The May test explosion occurred before another launch was attempted. On August 5, Blue Origin revealed that a malfunctioning oxygen valve likely triggered the blast, as reported by Space.com. Since the accident, no further New Glenn launches have been undertaken.
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