Blue Origin plans to launch New Glenn again this year after explosion

Key Takeaways

• Blue Origin is planning to fly its New Glenn rocket again in 2026 despite last week’s massive explosion, according to CEO Dave Limp.
• Limp said Monday that more of the launchpad’s infrastructure was in “good shape” than expected following the explosion, which happened during testing at the company’s site in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
• Limp also said that another previously flown New Glenn rocket booster that was at the launch complex, along with three of the rocket’s upper stages, “also look good.” “We will fly again before the end of this year,” he said.
• It’s an aggressive timeline for returning to flight after what was the largest and most visible failure of the company’s history.
• Many people in the space industry assumed it would take Blue Origin at least until 2027 before New Glenn would launch again, especially because it seemed like there was a lot of damage to the launchpad — the only one Blue Origin has at the moment that can support New Glenn.