NASA chief praises progress Blue Origin is making after launch failure

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman recently praised Blue Origin for its extensive efforts in addressing the aftermath of the explosion that occurred at its launch pad during the New Glenn rocket test in late May. During a press briefing on Wednesday, Isaacman remarked, "Blue Origin’s response to the situation is almost beyond impressive, and that’s not just a NASA assessment." The incident, which took place on May 28, resulted in significant damage to New Glenn's only operational launch pad. Since then, Blue Origin has been actively collaborating with officials from the US Space Force to strategize and implement plans for recovery and future operations. NASA has a vested interest in Blue Origin’s swift return to flight, as the company’s Mk. 1 lander is slated to transport numerous cargo missions to the Moon, with the Mk. 2 lander set to eventually carry astronauts to the lunar surface. The New Glenn rocket plays a crucial role in launching both landers, and prior to the explosion, Blue Origin had intended to launch the first Mk. 1 mission, named Endurance, later this year. Additionally, Blue Origin is in the process of developing a test version of the Mk. 2 lander, aimed for launch as part of NASA's Artemis III mission, which is anticipated to occur in the latter half of next year. Blue Origin's CEO, Dave Limp, has stated that the company is working diligently to restore Launch Complex 36A, finalize the anomaly investigation, and achieve a return-to-flight mission for the New Glenn rocket by year-end. However, some NASA officials have privately expressed doubts about this timeline, with many independent analysts suggesting that a more realistic timeframe for New Glenn's return to flight might be between 12 to 18 months. Isaacman emphasized that NASA's preferred outcome is for the Endurance mission, which will deliver two NASA science and technology payloads to the lunar surface, to proceed with a launch on the New Glenn rocket.