Blue Origin still doesn’t know why its New Glenn rocket blew up last month

Blue Origin, the aerospace venture founded by Jeff Bezos, is making efforts to rebound from last month’s catastrophic explosion of its New Glenn rocket. Despite the setback, the company is committed to utilizing the mega-rocket again this year, even as investigations into the cause of the explosion continue. In a recent update on the company’s website, CEO Dave Limp provided the most comprehensive statement regarding the incident. He emphasized that Blue Origin is actively working to pinpoint and rectify the root cause of the failure. According to Limp, initial assessments suggest that the issue may have originated in the aft section of the rocket's first stage. The investigation is utilizing extensive data from various camera angles and sensor readings to aid in the analysis. After investing over a decade in the methodical development of the New Glenn rocket, Blue Origin had been accelerating its launch schedule. The rocket's first launch took place in January 2025, and it was gearing up for its fourth flight when the explosion occurred during a test on May 28. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported due to the incident. As part of NASA's initiative to return humans to the moon, Blue Origin is eager to resume flights with New Glenn. To achieve this, the company must not only uncover and resolve the issues that led to the explosion but also reconstruct its launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, which is currently the sole site capable of accommodating the massive rocket. In his message, Limp commended his team for their swift progress in addressing these challenges. The explosion resulted in the loss of critical infrastructure, including a lightning tower and the transporter-erector, the equipment responsible for transporting and erecting the rocket on the launchpad. Nearby structures also sustained damage from the blast. Despite these setbacks, Limp noted that some facilities, such as the on-site water tower, gas tanks, and rocket integration facility, remain intact. He shared insights on how the company plans to modify its launch complex, opting to replace the transporter-erector with a large crane to position the New Glenn rocket at the launchpad. This change is expected to not only expedite the return to flight but also enhance the frequency of launches, with Blue Origin initially aiming for up to 12 launches this year prior to the explosion.