Topic: [Discuss] Blue Origin New Glenn orbital rocket
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 3324 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 04-19-2026 02:41 PM
Had a chance to be 5 miles away from this morning's NG-3 launch, it was spectacular. I am amazed at how slowly it lifts off the pad and clears the tower. Once the sound hits you, you know it's a big rocket. It's amazing!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56892 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-20-2026 01:20 PM
The launch looked great, unfortunately it failed to put its payload — AST SpaceMobile's Blue Bird 7 satellite — into the proper orbit and the vehicle has been declared a loss.
Now that we have a more complete view, we wanted to provide an update on our NG-3 mission. While we are pleased with the nominal booster recovery, we clearly didn't deliver the mission our customer wanted, and our team expects. Early data suggest that on our second GS2 burn, one of the BE-3U engines didn’t produce sufficient thrust to reach our target orbit. Blue Origin is leading the anomaly investigation with FAA oversight to learn from the data and implement the improvements needed to quickly return to flight operations. We have been in steady communication with the team at AST SpaceMobile, we appreciate their partnership, and we’re looking forward to many flights together.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56892 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-28-2026 08:15 PM
Blue Origin tonight (May 28) was performing a static fire before the NG-4 (Amazon Leo) launch when New Glenn exploded on the pad. From Blue Origin:
We experienced an anomaly during today's hotfire test. All personnel have been accounted for. We will provide updates as we learn more.
The resulting fireball appeared to consume the entirety of LC-36 and reports are that it took down support towers. From Jeff Bezos:
All personnel are accounted for and safe. It's too early to know the root cause but we're already working to find it. Very rough day, but we'll rebuild whatever needs rebuilding and get back to flying. It's worth it.
posted 05-29-2026 04:15 AM
Very unfortunate and puts Artemis missions in limbo.
perineau Member
Posts: 439 From: FRANCE Registered: Jul 2007
posted 05-29-2026 04:23 AM
Between that and Starship being grounded, how is Artemis III going to fly in 2027?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56892 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-29-2026 07:09 AM
Artemis III can proceed without Blue Origin if need be (NASA's requirement for the mission is just one HLS; flying two is on a as ready basis).
And while I agree it looks dim for Blue Origin to be in any condition to fly in less than a year, if not longer, we don't know the extent of the damage to the pad or root cause yet, so it is probably best to wait for the company's (or NASA's) assessment before concluding anything.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56892 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-29-2026 07:53 AM
From Blue Origin:
Debris from our recent hotfire anomaly may wash ashore in the coming days/weeks. If you encounter any debris, do not touch or approach it for your safety.
Please report the location immediately: Call: 1-321-222-4355 Email: [email protected]
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3986 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 05-29-2026 10:34 AM
This was very unfortunate, but underlines why NASA is very unwise to fly Artemis missions on the assumption that Pad 39B will always be available. If an SLS explodes on the pad, where are the back-up launch facilities for Artemis?
In contrast SpaceX is developing multiple launch pads and will in due course (but not yet!) be able to continue launching even if a launch failure, dropped booster or dropped Starship takes out the launch-structure. I'm sure SpaceX will have this explosion in mind when they come under pressure to go for a "catch" on Flight 13.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56892 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-29-2026 10:46 AM
From NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman:
NASA is aware of the anomaly that occurred [May 28] at Launch Complex 36 involving Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult. We will work with our partners to support a thorough investigation of this anomaly, assess near-term mission impacts, and get back to launching rockets.
We will provide information on any impacts to the Artemis and Moon Base programs as it becomes available.
Headshot Member
Posts: 1496 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 05-29-2026 11:06 AM
Does anyone know the total amounts of fuel and oxidizer were aboard NG-4 when it exploded?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56892 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-29-2026 11:44 AM
I wasn't able to find data for the second stage, but back in 2024, CEO Dave Limp described the first stage as follows:
The first stage LOX tank is nearly 30,000 cu. ft., and the LNG tank is almost 25,000 cu. ft. — equivalent to about 24 and 20 tanker trucks, respectively.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56892 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-29-2026 01:30 PM
Aerial views shared by Launch Heaven showing the aftermath to the pad:
Headshot Member
Posts: 1496 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 05-29-2026 02:26 PM
Based on a formula NASA developed in 1965 and assuming only the first stage of New Glenn was fueled to capacity, the fireball from the explosion was 1135 feet in diameter.
There is no data for the weight of propellants in the second stage. Using a rough estimate, if the second stage was also fueled to capacity, the fireball would have been 1195 feet in diameter.
Jim Behling Member
Posts: 2065 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: Mar 2010
posted 05-29-2026 07:18 PM
quote:Originally posted by Blackarrow: This was very unfortunate, but underlines why NASA is very unwise to fly Artemis missions on the assumption that Pad 39B will always be available.
Not really. SLS doesn't fly enough to warrant a second pad. And if n pad incident did happen, flying Orion on another vehicle would be a better option.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56892 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-30-2026 04:22 PM
From CEO David Limp:
We have regained some access to Launch Complex 36 and are actively investigating the hotfire anomaly. We will start clearing the pad soon and have a good rebuild plan in place. The booster and GS2s in the integration facility appear healthy from quick looks.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56892 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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 good. The big support tower is damaged, but it can be repaired in place rather than torn down and replaced. The booster "Never Tell Me The Odds" and the three GS-2s that were onsite in the integration facility also look good.
I've seen some speculation that we might move directly to the 9x4 configuration, but we won't do that. Rate manufacturing of 7x2 is going well, and we're going to continue that at pace as planned and store the stages for use. In addition, we had already been working for some time on eliminating our transporter-erector in favor of an alternative vertical conop, and we'll now go directly to that; so we don't need a new transporter-erector.
We will fly again before the end of this year. Gradatim Ferociter.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56892 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
Quite a sight to see the progress this team has made since May 28.
Wreckage recovery from start to finish was completed in 9 days, and all debris has been cleared from Launch Complex 36. Huge shoutout to the team who have been working 7x24.
We have started reconstruction and still plan to fly again this year. Will have more details on the new conop soon.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56892 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-19-2026 12:43 PM
From CEO David Limp:
Launch table is out.
The two-million-pound launch table is heading to the Integration Facility for inspection and adjustments to support our future ConOps. Once reinstalled at the pad, it'll be outfitted with the first stage aft umbilicals and tied into the water system, which delivers water injection just below the engine nozzles.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56892 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-27-2026 01:34 PM
From CEO David Limp:
Destacking of the vehicle access tower is complete.
We removed the top six modules to begin integrating fluids and controls as part of our new ConOps. This includes adding cryo systems, pneumatics, and mechanisms.
We’ll also add in floors for access before we begin re-stacking. This allows us to work in parallel, keeping with our return-to-flight timeline.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 56892 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-05-2026 06:50 PM
From CEO David Limp:
Wanted to give an update on the hotfire anomaly investigation.
Progress continues. The anomaly originated at the main oxygen valve on one of the BE-4 engines, which was later confirmed by hardware recovery and inspections. Extensive component-level and engine hotfire tests have been conducted to understand the failure mode better and inform mitigations.
The path forward is clear. We're making small modifications to the valve that can be quickly retrofitted to existing engines. We're manufacturing the updated hardware, which will be ready by the end of this month. In parallel, we're working through the remaining fault tree analysis.
posted 04-19-2026 02:41 PM
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