Blue Origin Pushes New Glenn Launch to 2027 After May Blast
A launchpad explosion has pushed Blue Origin’s next New Glenn flight back to January 2027.
TL;DR
- New Glenn suffered a May 2026 launchpad explosion that damaged Florida infrastructure.
- CEO Dave Limp’s internal memo now targets January 2027 instead of year-end.
- Repairs are done but weather slowed progress; Amazon and NASA missions still planned.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket suffered a launchpad explosion during a hot test in May 2026. The blast damaged infrastructure at the Florida site and halted further tests.
CEO Dave Limp first told staff repairs would finish fast enough for a launch before year-end. An internal memo now sets the new target for January 2027.
Repairs to the Vehicle Access Tower and launch bridge are complete. Limp blamed slower progress on bad weather.
The company, owned by Jeff Bezos, still plans to use New Glenn for Amazon’s Leo satellite network and a new NASA Mars telecom contract won in September.
“Returning New Glenn to flight remains our top priority — it’s worth it.”
Bezos had joked in October that a December flight might happen on the 31st. The updated schedule sits roughly ten days later than that earlier goal.
“Returning New Glenn to flight remains our top priority — it’s worth it,” Limp wrote in the memo.
The Tea
Big rockets take time, and one setback can ripple through years of contracts. Blue Origin is still in the game, but every delay hands rivals more runway to pull ahead.