On May 28, a massive explosion echoed across Florida, USA, as a new-type rocket was obliterated into a fireball. The NASA lunar landing program suffered a setback, presenting China with a significant opportunity for strategic reversal.
Around 9 p.m. that day, at Launch Complex 36 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket suddenly exploded during a static fire test. Thick white smoke billowed from the rocket’s base, and within seconds, a fiery ball engulfed the entire vehicle from bottom to top, with flames soaring high into the sky—the first-stage booster completely destroyed.
This wasn’t just an explosion of a rocket—it shattered one of the key pillars supporting NASA’s moon landing initiative.
According to NASA’s official plan released on May 26, the crewed “Artemis” lunar mission is scheduled for 2028, with three lunar base missions set to begin this year as preparatory steps. Among them, the “Lunar Base One” mission is planned for launch no earlier than autumn 2026, relying on Blue Origin’s “Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance” lander to deliver NASA’s payload to the lunar south pole.
Additionally, earlier this year, NASA awarded Blue Origin a contract worth $188 million to transport a lunar rover to the southern polar region of the Moon.
Blue Origin is one of the two pillars driving America’s return to the Moon—NASA has placed bets on two companies under the Artemis program: SpaceX’s Starship lander and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander.
Even more embarrassing, just days before, NASA officials had publicly emphasized the importance of Blue Origin’s role in the lunar mission. The sudden failure left NASA officials visibly embarrassed. If the New Glenn remains grounded for an extended period, the Blue Moon lander cannot be launched on schedule, forcing the entire lunar timeline to be delayed further. Originally slated for its first crewed lunar landing in 2024, the Artemis program has already been pushed back to 2028—and now may face another postponement.
Desperate to catch up with SpaceX, Blue Origin rushed to increase launch frequency before its reusable technology was fully matured, resulting in a devastating cost.
The purpose of a static fire test is to verify whether the engines can ignite and operate properly. Yet, seven BE-4 engines simultaneously detonated the entire rocket. This indicates obvious systemic flaws in Blue Origin’s engine testing, quality control, and safety inspection procedures. The accident occurred just four days after receiving approval—a sign that the re-flight review process may have been dangerously hasty.
For China, this lesson is clear: proceed step by step, prioritize safety above all else. Every stage in the development, testing, and reuse validation of reusable rockets must be conducted thoroughly—not rushed or cut corners. Only by maintaining stability and solidifying foundational work can China seize real opportunities when the critical window finally arrives.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866487727772684/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.