Blue Origin plans to return its New Glenn rocket to flight before the end of 2026 despite an explosion last week that generated shockwaves reportedly comparable to a small earthquake and caused damage at the company’s launch complex.
Following an assessment of Launch Complex 36A and surrounding infrastructure, Blue Origin Chief Executive Officer Dave Limp said the company remains on track to resume launches within the year.
Infrastructure Largely Intact
According to Limp, several critical systems at the launch site escaped significant damage.
“The propellant farm, oxygen, liquid hydrogen, and LNG tanks are all in good shape,” Limp said in a post on X.
“The water tower is also good. The big support tower is damaged, but it can be repaired in place rather than torn down and replaced.”
Limp added that the New Glenn booster known as Never Tell Me The Odds and three GS-2 upper stages stored at the integration facility were not significantly affected.
Some LC-36 updates. Now that we’ve had access to the pad and integration facility we can share a bit of good news. The propellant farm, oxygen, liquid hydrogen and LNG tanks are all in good shape. This is good luck because these are very long lead items. The water tower is also…
— Dave Limp (@davill) June 2, 2026
Recovery Efforts Underway
The company’s recovery timeline is supported by ongoing efforts to modernize launch operations.
Blue Origin is developing a new launch architecture that removes the need for a traditional transporter-erector system, potentially simplifying future operations and reducing refurbishment requirements.
Limp also dismissed speculation that the company might use the incident as an opportunity to accelerate development of a larger New Glenn configuration.
Instead, Blue Origin intends to continue operating the current 7×2 variant of the rocket.
Importance for Lunar Missions
The return-to-flight schedule is closely tied to NASA’s broader lunar exploration objectives.
New Glenn is expected to play a role in supporting Blue Origin’s lunar transportation initiatives, including future Artemis-related missions and lunar surface logistics.
Last week, NASA awarded Blue Origin an initial $188 million contract covering two missions to deliver Lunar Terrain Vehicles (LTVs) to the Moon’s south pole by 2028.
The company is also expected to launch its Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lunar lander before the end of the year.
NASA Offers Support
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman visited Florida following the incident to review the damage and meet with Blue Origin leadership, including founder Jeff Bezos and CEO Dave Limp.
The agency indicated it is prepared to assist the company as it works toward restoring launch operations.
“We are not going to sit on our hands and wait for the capabilities necessary to achieve the nation’s most pressing objectives. We are going to take an active role,” Isaacman said in a statement posted on X.
“NASA is committed to helping the Blue Origin team recover, continue to advance their lunar lander, and get New Glenn back to launching as soon as safely possible.”
The incident remains under review, but company officials indicated that repairs are progressing and that the overall impact on Blue Origin’s long-term launch and lunar exploration plans may be less severe than initially feared.
