3 publishers · first seen Wed, 04 Nov 2026 17:00 UTC · updated Sat, 07 Nov 2026 09:23 UTC
Blue Origin has announced a delay in the return to flight for its New Glenn rocket, now expected in January 2027, according to an internal memo from CEO Dave Limp. The delay follows an explosion during a ground test, which caused significant damage to the launchpad. Despite the setback, Blue Origin has been working on upgrades, including a new third stage called GS3 and a booster engine named Northstar. GS3 is designed for missions including direct injection into geostationary orbit and Earth-escape trajectories, while Northstar is a more powerful and less complex engine with increased thrust.
The company has also been rebuilding the launchpad and is preparing for future missions. Blue Origin has secured a contract from NASA to set up a telecommunications network for Mars and its New Glenn rockets are planned to support Amazon's Leo satellite broadband service. The next rocket launch is now expected in January 2027, as reported by Financial Times.
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