BEZOS CALLS NEW GLENN EXPLOSION A 'GUT PUNCH'

Bezos, speaking at VivaTech 2026, described the New Glenn failure in Florida as "a rough moment" for Blue Origin. The rocket company has been developing New Glenn as a heavy-lift launch vehicle designed to compete in the commercial spaceflight market. The explosion marked a notable setback for Blue Origin's ambitions in the aerospace sector. Bezos emphasized the emotional impact on personnel involved in the rocket's development and testing. Blue Origin has not yet released a detailed public assessment of the explosion's cause. The company continues development of New Glenn alongside its other projects, including the New Shepard suborbital vehicle and lunar lander programs. The incident comes amid intensifying competition in the commercial space industry, where companies like SpaceX and others are rapidly advancing rocket technology and launch capabilities.