Blue Origin Explosion Threatens 1-Year Moon Mission Delay as Launchpad Damage Upends NASA Plans
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · May 29
Blue Origin Explosion Threatens 1-Year Moon Mission Delay as Launchpad Damage Upends NASA Plans
14 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 29
A former NASA official estimated Blue Origin’s damaged launchpad could delay its role in the Artemis moon campaign by at least one year after the rocket explosion.
The setback would stem from months of pad rebuilding, an accident investigation, New Glenn’s return-to-flight process and testing needed for Artemis III.
NASA had just said Blue Origin would launch its uncrewed Blue Moon Mark 1 lander this fall and had awarded it a contract to deliver two lunar rovers in 2028.
Artemis III could still fly next year if SpaceX is ready, but that would leave NASA relying heavily on a single company’s still-unproven technology.
Blue Origin said all personnel were safe; Jeff Bezos said the company would rebuild, while a second Florida launchpad remains unavailable on a clear timeline.
As Blue Origin's failure stalls America's lunar ambitions, could China now be first to build a base on the Moon?
With its partner's rocket destroyed, is NASA's moon base dream now entirely dependent on its rival, SpaceX?