A New Glenn rocket, like the one seen here, exploded May 28, in Florida after experiencing an anomaly in a valve that supplies oxygen to an engine, Blue Origin said Wednesday. File Photo by Joe Marino/UP | License Photo
Aug. 6 (UPI) -- Blue Origin has pinned the cause of the explosion of its New Glenn rocket in May on an issue with a valve that controls oxygen flow into one of its engines.
The New Glenn was being prepared for its fourth launch, which was to carry a communications satellite into orbit, when it exploded during a routine engine test on May 28. The rocket and its payload were destroyed in the blast, and Blue Origin's launch facility in Cape Canaveral, Fla., was damaged.
Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said on Wednesday that an anomaly, which originated in the main valve that controls the flow of oxygen into one of the rocket's seven BE-4 engines, led to the accident.
"Extensive component-level and engine hotfire tests have been conducted to understand the failure mode better and inform mitigations," he said. "The path forward is clear."
