Blue Origin's New Glenn Launch Pushed Back Again to January 2027
The next launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, earlier expected this year, is now not anticipated until January 2027. The delay stems from slower-than-hoped repairs after a May 2026 explosion at the company's Florida launch site.
Blue Origin, the US space company owned by Jeff Bezos, will not launch its next New Glenn rocket until January 2027, according to an internal memo from CEO Dave Limp. The company had previously said a launch would happen before the end of this year, but repairs following a May accident are taking longer than expected. The Financial Times was the first to report the new timeline.
What happened
In May 2026, a New Glenn rocket exploded on its launchpad in Florida during a hot-test. The blast caused significant damage to the company's infrastructure and halted further activity. Shortly afterward, Limp claimed repairs would be completed quickly and that the next launch would take place before the end of the year.
Progress on repairs
The memo says the launchpad's Vehicle Access Tower has been repaired and restacked, and the launch bridge has been restored. Limp blamed weather problems for the slower pace. He also praised staff, writing that in just six months the team had achieved what many believed would take years.
Why it matters
Once cleared to fly again, the company is set to significantly expand its presence in space. In September, Blue Origin won a contract from NASA, the US space agency, to build a telecommunications network for Mars. New Glenn rockets are also scheduled to carry more equipment into orbit to support Amazon's Leo satellite broadband service.
