TL;DRBlue Origin still does not know why New Glenn exploded in May, with early analysis pointing to the aft section of the first stage.
Blue Origin still does not know why its New Glenn rocket exploded last month, CEO Dave Limp said in a blog post on Tuesday. Early analysis points to the aft section of the first stage, according to Limp, who said the company is pulling on “extensive data from multiple camera angles and sensors” to identify the root cause. The explosion on May 28 destroyed the rocket and severely damaged Blue Origin’s only New Glenn launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The rocket was preparing for its fourth flight when it detonated during a prelaunch engine test. Nobody was injured. New Glenn had flown three times since its debut in January 2025, reaching orbit on its first attempt but losing payloads on two of its three missions.
Limp praised employees for making quick progress on rebuilding the launch site. The company lost a lightning tower and the transporter-erector, the large piece of equipment that moved New Glenn to the pad and stood it upright. Nearby buildings were also damaged in the blast.
But Limp said the company “caught a lot of breaks, too, and intend to make the most of them.” The on-site water tower, gas tanks, and rocket integration facility are all in good shape, sparing Blue Origin from having to replace components with long manufacturing lead times.
