On Thursday, a New Glenn rocket belonging to Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin exploded during an engine-firing test at the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, ahead of a satellite launch scheduled for next week.

Blue Origin also planned to use the rocket to launch landers to the moon for NASA, delivering payloads and astronauts to the surface. SpaceX is jockeying to be selected by NASA for the lunar mission too, and may emerge as the only remaining option to meet an ambitious schedule.

The vulnerability highlights the multiple steps—and contractors—a lunar landing would entail. While NASA successfully sent astronauts around the moon last month in a Lockheed Martin Orion capsule launched by Boeing’s massive Space Launch System rocket, landing on the moon’s surface requires a separate spacecraft.

Next year, NASA plans to send astronauts into Earth orbit via the Orion and Space Launch System as part of its Artemis III mission. While in orbit, NASA expected to dock the Orion with either SpaceX’s lunar lander, a variant of the Starship, and/or Blue Origin’s lander, the Blue Moon.

But the New Glenn is supposed to launch the Blue Moon into space, and the rocket is now grounded as the cause of the explosion is investigated. Just days before the explosion, NASA awarded Blue Origin launch contracts, including one this fall for a Blue Moon lander mission to put NASA payloads on the surface.

“Blue Origin’s inability to launch Blue Moon anytime soon is likely to put the company out of the running for Artemis III,” wrote Wendy Whitman Cobb, a professor at the U.S. Air Force School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, in the Conversation on Friday. “This setback means that Artemis III, and NASA’s entire lunar exploration program, is likely to be dependent on SpaceX for the time being.”

Meanwhile, SpaceX is still developing the Starship. While a next-generation version of the giant rocket completed a test flight this month that was largely successful, more work needs to be done to produce a lunar-lander variant.

Whitman Cobb warned that if SpaceX can’t get Starship ready in time, then NASA may need to delay the Artemis III orbital-docking test by a year to 2028—meaning the Artemis IV mission to put astronauts on the moon will miss its 2028 timeline.

Further delays could also open the door again to Blue Origin, if it can get the New Glenn back on track soon and test out its lunar lander.

But a mishap highlighting NASA’s reliance on SpaceX could not come at a better time for CEO Elon Musk, whose company is expected to go public on June 12 in what will likely be the largest IPO ever. SpaceX is seeking to raise up to $75 billion at a valuation of $1.75 trillion or more. 

Since its founding in 2002, SpaceX has taken over the market. It claimed more than 80% of global rocket launches last year and has over 10,000 Starlink satellites in orbit, providing space-based internet connections to businesses and militaries.

In addition to serving NASA, SpaceX is a top launch provider for the Pentagon, which is also looking to the company to help develop President Donald Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile-defense shield.

“It’s a truly unique business with the deepest moat that exists today,” an investor told the Financial Times recently.

Starlink is SpaceX’s cash cow as the satellite business more than doubled its profit last year to $4.4 billion. Blue Origin has plans to compete in that arena as well by building out its constellation of Leo satellites. But the New Glenn explosion, which also damaged Blue Origin’s launchpad, has set that back as well.

Walter Isaacson, an author and an advisory partner at Perella Weinberg, pointed out that the New Glenn accident not only puts Blue Origin behind SpaceX in the lunar mission but further behind its rival in the satellite business.

“SpaceX is way ahead, and the loss of this launchpad on during this test means that it’s going to be harder for Blue Origin to catch up in the next two or three years with low-Earth-orbit communication satellites,” he told CNBC on Friday. 

NASA

Investing in dividend stocks is one of the simplest ways to generate passive income. Many companies pay dividends, with several offering attractive yields. However, not every high-yielding dividend stock will provide a sustainable passive income stream.

Here are three high-yielding dividend stocks ideal for those looking to start generating passive income. They have an excellent record of paying a growing dividend, which should continue.

Brookfield Infrastructure

Brookfield Infrastructure (BIPC 0.25%)(BIP 0.17%) operates a globally diversified portfolio of critical infrastructure assets. It focuses on owning assets in the utilities, transport, midstream, and data sectors secured by long-term contracts and government-regulated rate structures. Those frameworks provide it with stable, durable cash flows.

The infrastructure company currently yields over 4%, several times higher than the S&P 500‘s 1.1% dividend yield. Brookfield Infrastructure has increased its dividend in each of its 17 years as a public company, growing the payout at a 9% compound annual rate. The company aims to increase its dividend at a 5% to 9% annual rate over the long term.

Today’s Change

(-0.42%) $-0.20

Current Price

$47.81

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$200B

Day’s Range

$47.34 – $48.16

52wk Range

$38.39 – $51.68

Volume

40.4M

Avg Vol

24.8M

Gross Margin

45.50%

Dividend Yield

5.78%

It’s in a strong position to achieve that goal. Brookfield Infrastructure estimates that its organic growth drivers, which include inflation-indexed rate increases, volume growth as the global economy expands, and expansion projects, will deliver 6% to 9% annual growth in funds from operations (FFO) per share. Meanwhile, acquisitions should push its long-term FFO growth rate above 10% annualized.

Realty Income

Realty Income (O 0.20%) is one of the world’s largest real estate investment trusts (REITs). The company owns a diversified portfolio of more than 15,500 retail, industrial, gaming, and other properties across the U.S. and Europe. It invests in properties secured by long-term net leases with many of the world’s leading companies. Those leases supply it with very stable rental income.

The REIT pays a monthly dividend that currently yields more than 5%. Realty Income has increased its dividend 134 times since its public market listing in 1994, growing it at a 4.2% compound annual rate. It has raised its payment for 114 consecutive quarters and 31 straight years.

Today’s Change

(-0.20%) $-0.12

Current Price

$61.30

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$57B

Day’s Range

$60.62 – $61.57

52wk Range

$55.52 – $67.94

Volume

268.1K

Avg Vol

5.9M

Gross Margin

50.46%

Dividend Yield

5.72%

Realty Income is in a strong position to continue increasing its dividend. It has a conservative dividend payout ratio, fortress balance sheet, and a growing list of strategic partners, giving it ample financial capacity to continue expanding its portfolio. Meanwhile, the REIT sees a $14 trillion total addressable market, giving it a very long growth runway.

Verizon

Verizon (VZ 0.42%) is a leading mobile and broadband provider. The company generates recurring revenue by delivering these vital services to customers.

The telecom giant currently offers a dividend yielding nearly 6%. Verizon has raised its payment for 19 consecutive years.

Today’s Change

(-0.42%) $-0.20

Current Price

$47.81

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$200B

Day’s Range

$47.34 – $48.16

52wk Range

$38.39 – $51.68

Volume

40.4M

Avg Vol

24.8M

Gross Margin

45.50%

Dividend Yield

5.78%

Verizon’s dividend costs it about $11.6 billion annually. It generates plenty of cash to cover that payout. The telecom giant is on track to produce at least $21.5 billion in free cash flow this year, after funding capital expenditures of up to $16.5 billion to maintain and expand its networks. That’s a 7% increase from last year. Verizon uses its surplus cash to maintain its balance sheet strength and repurchase shares (at least $3 billion planned for 2026). The company’s growing free cash flow should support continued dividend increases.

Core income holdings

Brookfield Infrastructure, Realty Income, and Verizon are ideal dividend stocks to buy for passive income. They generate very stable cash flow to support their high-yielding dividends and continued growth. Their combination of stable cash flows, higher-yielding dividends, growth track records, and financial strength makes them some of the first dividend stocks to buy if you’re seeking to start generating some passive income.