Comments on: New Glenn explodes in big setback for Blue Origin https://habitablezone.com/2026/05/28/new-glenn-explodes-in-big-setback-for-blue-origin/ Thu, 18 Jun 2026 21:15:48 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: BuckGalaxy https://habitablezone.com/2026/05/28/new-glenn-explodes-in-big-setback-for-blue-origin/#comment-54926 BuckGalaxy Sat, 30 May 2026 07:14:25 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=108877#comment-54926 The report is that the first NG that was successful is also damaged from the blast because the Horizontal Integration Facility it was in was too close to the launch site that blew up. Not that it really matters at this point. I can't see them launching the same rocket again after one blew up, so this other one would probably never fly again even if the damage report is false. And given that it will be something like 15 months before they are able to launch again with the launch pad destroyed, by then Blue Origin will have moved on to its new design: a 9x4 heavy booster config (9 first-stage engines, 4 second-stage engines) vs the current 7x2. Scrap the remaining booster for parts, damaged or not. The report is that the first NG that was successful is also damaged from the blast because the Horizontal Integration Facility it was in was too close to the launch site that blew up.

Not that it really matters at this point. I can’t see them launching the same rocket again after one blew up, so this other one would probably never fly again even if the damage report is false. And given that it will be something like 15 months before they are able to launch again with the launch pad destroyed, by then Blue Origin will have moved on to its new design: a 9×4 heavy booster config (9 first-stage engines, 4 second-stage engines) vs the current 7×2.

Scrap the remaining booster for parts, damaged or not.

]]> By: BuckGalaxy https://habitablezone.com/2026/05/28/new-glenn-explodes-in-big-setback-for-blue-origin/#comment-54925 BuckGalaxy Fri, 29 May 2026 06:11:46 +0000 https://www.habitablezone.com/?p=108877#comment-54925 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/28/science/blue-origin-explosion-rocket.html With the destruction of the launchpad, Blue Origin may not be able to participate in Artemis III. “Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult,” the NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, wrote on X. “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.” He added, “We will provide information on any impacts to the Artemis and Moon Base programs as it becomes available.” https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/28/science/blue-origin-explosion-rocket.html

With the destruction of the launchpad, Blue Origin may not be able to participate in Artemis III.

“Spaceflight is unforgiving, and developing new heavy-lift launch capability is extraordinarily difficult,” the NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, wrote on X. “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.”

He added, “We will provide information on any impacts to the Artemis and Moon Base programs as it becomes available.”

]]>