NASA chief praises Blue Origin after launch failure

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson praised Blue Origin's recovery plan after the New Glenn orbital launch failed to reach orbit due to a premature engine shutdown at T+2 minutes 30 seconds [Ars Technica][NASA Press Release]. The vehicle, a 7-meter, three-stage heavy-lift rocket, carried a 10,000-kg payload for the U.S. Space Force and a secondary 1,200-kg science module for the Lunar Gateway. Telemetry showed the BE-4 engine's thrust fell 12% below nominal, triggering the flight-termination system. The launch took place from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral, with the first stage igniting successfully, but a thrust anomaly prompted an automatic abort at 150 seconds. The second stage never ignited, and the vehicle fell back to the ocean, splashing down 45 km downrange. Blue Origin's post-flight report identified a valve-actuator fault in the BE-4's turbopump as the root cause and outlined a corrective-action plan [Ars Technica].

The failure triggers a $150 million insurance claim and a 90-day schedule slip for the next test flight [NASA Press Release]. Blue Origin's investors have pledged an additional $500 million to accelerate the redesign. Despite the setback, NASA's lunar-gateway schedule remains intact, with the gateway contract calling for a launch window between March 2027 and September 2028 [NASA Press Release]. Blue Origin retains its position as the only U.S. provider of a fully reusable heavy-lift vehicle, with New Glenn's reusability promise remaining a unique selling point for government and commercial customers [Ars Technica].