Blue Origin's New Glenn Explosion Damages Launchpad as 48 Amazon Satellites and NASA Plans Face Delays
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 29
Blue Origin's New Glenn Explosion Damages Launchpad as 48 Amazon Satellites and NASA Plans Face Delays
40 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 29
A Thursday night test blast turned New Glenn into a fireball on the launchpad, leaving Blue Origin with what investors called a major setback after months of momentum.
The damage appears worse than a routine in-flight failure because the explosion hit the pad itself: at least one massive steel tower seemed destroyed, with hydraulics and fueling systems below the concrete also in question.
That likely means delays for customers already lined up to use the rocket, including Amazon, which had 48 satellites ready for launch, and NASA, which had just expanded New Glenn's role in Artemis moon missions.
The setback lands as Blue Origin was finally emerging from years in SpaceX's shadow and as SpaceX approaches a potential IPO that could value it above $1.25 trillion.
After a second major failure in two months, is Blue Origin's critical role in NASA's moon mission now in jeopardy?
With New Glenn's fiery setback, will competitors now win the multi-billion dollar race to build infrastructure on the moon?