When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

On Episode 212 of This Week In Space, Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik are joined by Space.com's Mike Wall to discuss the loss of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket.The explosion appears to have severely damaged the launch structure, LC36, along with the loss of the rocket. Fortunately, there were no casualties. But this does throw NASA's schedule for returning American astronauts to the moon into question, given that the agency had recently signaled their choice of Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander for Artemis 4 in 2028.

It's now a toss-up between the US and China, with the competition hotter--and closer--than ever. And of course, we'll still discuss Starship and the latest lunar base plans!

Download or subscribe to this show at: https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket explodes in massive fireball during prelaunch test

Manhattanhenge 2026 begins tonight: Here's when and where to see the sunset spectacle

How to catch the perfect full moonrise — just in time for the Blue Moon show on May 30

SpaceX just launched Starship V3 — its most powerful megarocket yet — into space for the 1st time in spectacular Flight 12 test (video)

What's next for SpaceX's Starship V3 megarocket after its historic debut flight?

FAA grounds SpaceX's Starship V3 megarocket after Flight 12 'mishap'

NASA: Moon Base

China shakes up its space programs to land astronauts on the moon by 2030: 'We will spare no effort'

TOP TELESCOPE PICK:

Looking for a telescope to see planets and comets? We recommend the Celestron Astro Fi 102 as the top pick in our best beginner's telescope guide.

Finally, did you know you can launch your own SpaceX rocket? Model rocket maker Estes' stunning scale model of a Falcon 9 rocket that you can pick up now. The launchable model is a detailed recreation of the Falcon 9 and retails for $149.99. You can save 10% by using the code IN-COLLECTSPACE at checkout, courtesy of our partners collectSPACE.com.

This Week in Space covers the new space age. Every Friday we take a deep dive into a fascinating topic. What's happening with the new race to the moon and other planets? When will SpaceX really send people to Mars?

Join Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik from Space.com as they tackle those questions and more each week on Friday afternoons. You can subscribe today on your favorite podcatcher.