Key facts
- Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during testing on May 28.
- The company has not yet identified the root cause of the explosion.
- Early analysis indicates the issue may be related to the aft section of the first stage.
- Blue Origin aims to return the rocket to flight this year.
- The launchpad in Cape Canaveral, Florida, was damaged and is being rebuilt.
- The company will use a crane to position the rocket on the launchpad instead of a transporter-erector.
Blue Origin is continuing its efforts to determine the cause of the New Glenn rocket explosion that occurred during testing on May 28. CEO Dave Limp stated in a recent company post that the investigation is ongoing, with early analysis pointing to the aft section of the rocket's first stage. Despite the setback, Blue Origin intends to return the mega-rocket to flight this year.
The explosion caused significant damage to the company's launchpad facilities in Cape Canaveral, Florida, including the loss of a lightning tower and the transporter-erector equipment. Blue Origin is in the process of rebuilding the launchpad and plans to adopt a new approach, utilizing a large crane to position the New Glenn rocket for launches. This change is expected to expedite the return to flight and potentially increase the rocket's launch cadence.
Blue Origin's swift return to flight is crucial as the company is a key player in NASA's ambitious plans to return humans to the moon. Limp acknowledged that the company experienced some fortunate circumstances, such as critical infrastructure like the water tower, gas tanks, and rocket integration facility remaining intact, which aids in their recovery efforts.