Blue Origin Still Doesn't Know Why Its New Glenn Rocket Blew Up Last Month
Blue Origin has yet to determine the cause of last month's New Glenn rocket explosion, but the company plans to resume flights this year with changes to its launch complex.
Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin is still trying to figure out why its New Glenn rocket exploded during testing on May 28. In a public statement on Tuesday, CEO Dave Limp wrote that the company is working to "identify and correct the root cause" of the explosion. "Early analysis points to the aft section of the first stage," Limp said, adding that they are analyzing extensive data from multiple camera angles and sensors.
The explosion occurred as New Glenn was preparing for its fourth flight. No one was injured. Blue Origin wants to return the rocket to flight as quickly as possible because it has become a key player in NASA's effort to return humans to the moon. To do so, the company must not only fix the root cause but also rebuild its launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The explosion destroyed a lightning tower and the transporter-erector used to move and erect the rocket. Nearby buildings were also damaged. However, the water tower, gas tanks, and rocket integration facility survived. Limp announced that Blue Origin will replace the transporter-erector with a massive crane to raise New Glenn on the launchpad. This change is expected to speed up return to flight and increase launch cadence. Before the explosion, Blue Origin had planned up to 12 launches this year.
