Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp identified the cause of the New Glenn rocket explosion that occurred during a static fire test on May 28 at Launch Complex 36. After an investigation involving hardware recovery and inspections, the team traced the failure to a main oxygen valve on one of the BE-4 engines.
The explosion caused significant damage to the launch site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The company is currently repairing the facility and expects to have the updated hardware ready for implementation by the end of August. These modifications will be retrofitted to existing engines to ensure a return to flight by the end of the year.
The BE-4 engine is also used by United Launch Alliance for the Vulcan rocket. While the New Glenn and Vulcan engine configurations differ due to specific requirements for landing and reuse, Blue Origin is coordinating with ULA to apply necessary modifications to the engines used on the Vulcan platform at facilities in Alabama and Florida.
The timeline for several upcoming projects remains tied to the return of New Glenn. The rocket is a critical component for the deployment of Amazon Leo satellites, which provide broadband internet coverage. Additionally, the launch schedule for the Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander, known as Endurance, has been adjusted to the first quarter of 2027. Despite these delays, the company reports that the path forward is set and repair work on the integration facility continues.