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Blue Origin still doesn’t know why its New Glenn rocket blew up last month
Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin is pressing ahead with plans to reuse its New Glenn mega-rocket this year despite a dramatic explosion during testing last month. In his most detailed public statement yet, CEO Dave Limp wrote on Blue Origin's website Tuesday that the company is still working to "identify and correct the root cause" of the blast. "Early analysis points to the aft section of the first stage," Limp noted, saying engineers are analyzing extensive data from multiple camera angles and sensors. After more than a decade of slow, deliberate development, New Glenn had accelerated its pace. Its maiden flight occurred in January 2025, and it was preparing for its fourth launch when it exploded during ground testing on May 28. No one was injured. Blue Origin aims to return the rocket to flight as quickly as possible because the company has become a key player in NASA's push to return humans to the moon before President Trump leaves office. To resume launches, Blue Origin must not only identify and fix the cause of the explosion but also rebuild its launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida—the only pad capable of supporting the massive rocket. The explosion destroyed a lightning tower and the transporter-erector, the equipment used to move and erect the rocket on the pad. Nearby buildings were also damaged. However, Limp noted that the company "caught a lot of breaks," including the water tower, gas tanks, and rocket integration facility remaining in good shape. Blue Origin plans to change its launch complex design. Instead of the transporter-erector, it will use a massive crane to stand New Glenn upright on the pad before flights. Limp said this approach will allow a faster return to flight and increase the rocket's flight cadence. Before the explosion, the company had planned as many as 12 launches this year.