Blue Origin's huge New Glenn rocket grounded after launch mishap
Space • • business
Key Points:
- Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket has been temporarily grounded following a failed third mission on April 19, which resulted in the loss of the BlueBird 7 satellite due to an upper stage engine underperforming during orbit insertion.
- The FAA is overseeing a full investigation into the incident, requiring Blue Origin to submit a final report with corrective actions before resuming flights.
- Although the rocket's first stage successfully landed on a droneship, the upper stage's malfunction caused BlueBird 7 to be deployed at an altitude too low for operational use, leading to its planned deorbit and insurance claim by AST SpaceMobile.
- This setback is significant as New Glenn is slated to launch Blue Origin's Blue Moon lunar lander later this year, a key component of NASA's Artemis program.
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman expressed confidence in Blue Origin's ability to recover from the failure, highlighting the successful first-stage recovery as a positive sign for future missions.
