{"id":17014,"date":"2026-06-03T01:59:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/blue-origin-ceo-pledges-to-repair-ruined-launch-pad-and-return-to-flight-by-the-end-of-the-year\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T01:59:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T17:59:01","slug":"blue-origin-ceo-pledges-to-repair-ruined-launch-pad-and-return-to-flight-by-the-end-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/blue-origin-ceo-pledges-to-repair-ruined-launch-pad-and-return-to-flight-by-the-end-of-the-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Origin CEO pledges to repair ruined launch pad and return to flight by the end of the year"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The SkySat satellite image at left shows Blue Origin\u2019s launch pad in Florida on May 20, before the New Glenn rocket explosion. The satellite image at right shows the pad on May 31, three days after the blast. Click on the image for a larger version. (Credit: Planet Labs PBC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jeff Bezos\u2019 Blue Origin space venture aims to repair the damage done last week by a launch-pad rocket explosion and return to flight before the end of the year, the company\u2019s CEO says.<\/p>\n

In a post to X, CEO Dave Limp laid out a schedule that was more optimistic than what was expected immediately after last Thursday\u2019s fiery destruction of a New Glenn rocket during a static-fire test. CNBC quoted NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman as saying that it would \u201ctake some serious time\u201d to restore Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.<\/p>\n

In his post, Limp said he had \u201ca bit of good news\u201d to share after inspecting the pad and the complex\u2019s integration facility.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe propellant farm, oxygen, liquid hydrogen and LNG tanks are all in good shape,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is good luck because these are very long lead items. 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. The booster \u2018Never Tell Me The Odds\u2019 and the three GS-2s [upper stages] that were onsite in the integration facility also look good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Limp said the pad would be rebuilt to accommodate the current 7\u00d72 New Glenn configuration, which offers a seven-engine first stage and a two-engine upper stage, rather than immediately transitioning to the next-generation configuration with nine engines on the first stage and four on the upper stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cRate manufacturing of 7\u00d72 is going well, and we\u2019re going to continue that at pace as planned and store the stages for use,\u201d he said. \u201cIn addition, we had already been working for some time on eliminating our transporter-erector in favor of an alternative vertical conop [concept of operations], and we\u2019ll now go directly to that; so we don\u2019t need a new transporter-erector.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will fly again before the end of the year,\u201d Limp wrote. Then he signed off with Blue Origin\u2019s motto, \u201cGradatim Ferociter,\u201d which is Latin for \u201cStep by Step, Ferociously.\u201d<\/p>\n

If New Glenn returns to flight this year, that would be relatively good news for NASA and Blue Origin\u2019s other customers. NASA had tapped New Glenn and Blue Origin\u2019s Blue Moon Mark 1 lander to deliver a set of payloads to the moon this fall, and to send the space agency\u2019s VIPER rover to the moon\u2019s south polar region in 2027.<\/p>\n

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