Blue Origin has moved the planned return to flight of its New Glenn orbital rocket from December 2026 to January 2027, following reconstruction work at Launch Complex 36 in Florida after a major ground-testing accident.
Chief Executive Officer Dave Limp communicated the revised schedule to employees in an internal memorandum on November 4, 2026. Reuters reported the change on November 5, citing the memorandum and people familiar with the company’s plans.
The announcement revises Blue Origin’s earlier commitment to resume launches before the end of 2026. The revised target is January 2027, with the next flight expected to support the deployment of Amazon Leo broadband satellites.
The schedule change follows a May 28 accident that destroyed a New Glenn rocket during an integrated vehicle hotfire test and damaged launch infrastructure at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
The May 2026 Ground-Testing Accident
On May 28, 2026, Blue Origin was conducting a hotfire test of a New Glenn launch vehicle at Launch Complex 36.
During a hotfire, the rocket’s engines operate while the vehicle remains secured to the launch pad. Engineers use the test to evaluate propulsion performance, control systems, fuel delivery, and ground equipment before flight.
The test experienced a major anomaly involving the first-stage propulsion system. The vehicle was destroyed, and the resulting explosion damaged infrastructure surrounding the launch platform.
Blue Origin subsequently identified the main oxygen valve on one of its BE-4 engines as the origin of the anomaly.
In an August 5 technical update, the company reported that recovered hardware, inspections, and testing had confirmed the location of the failure.
The BE-4 engine burns liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas, primarily methane. Its main oxygen valve controls the flow of oxidizer into the propulsion system.
Blue Origin developed modifications to the valve and conducted component-level and engine hotfire testing to support the revised design.
The accident occurred during preparations for another New Glenn mission carrying satellites for Amazon’s low-Earth-orbit broadband constellation.
Reconstruction of Launch Complex 36
The May accident damaged equipment used to transport, raise, secure, and service the rocket.
In its June 30 recovery announcement, Blue Origin identified the lightning tower, transporter-erector, and hydraulic cylinders among the infrastructure lost during the incident.
The transporter-erector had been used to move New Glenn from its integration facility to the launch pad and raise the rocket into a vertical launch position.
Other major facilities survived the accident, including the propellant tank farm, integration building, vehicle access tower, and water tower.
Blue Origin chose to revise its launch processing arrangements rather than reconstruct the original configuration.
The company introduced a hybrid horizontal and vertical integration approach that had already been under development for its larger New Glenn 9×4 variant.
Under this arrangement, the rocket’s first and second stages are connected horizontally inside the integration facility.
The assembled vehicle is then transported to the launch complex, where a crane raises it vertically and positions it on the launch pedestal.
Ground systems connect to the rocket through the service infrastructure, and the payload is subsequently lifted and attached at the pad.
This approach changes how New Glenn is prepared for launch and reduces reliance on the original transporter-erector arrangement.
Weather and Construction Delays
The November schedule revision reflects the time required to reconstruct the launch facility and establish the revised vehicle-processing configuration.
According to Reuters, Limp informed employees that summer weather had slowed reconstruction work.
Florida’s Atlantic coast experiences substantial rainfall, thunderstorms, and periods of severe weather during the summer and early autumn. These conditions affected work at the launch complex.
Recent flash flooding also complicated recovery activities.
The November memorandum reported that Blue Origin had repaired and restacked the vehicle access tower and restored the launch bridge.
These structures support access to the rocket and the connections required for launch preparation.
The January 2027 target moves the next flight beyond the December period previously identified by Blue Origin.
The company has continued manufacturing launch vehicles during the recovery period.
New Glenn’s Operational History
New Glenn is Blue Origin’s heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle. Its reusable first stage is powered by seven BE-4 engines, while its second stage uses two BE-3U engines.
The rocket made its inaugural orbital flight in January 2025.
A second flight followed in November 2025, and a third mission launched in April 2026.
The April flight carried AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird 7 communications satellite. An upper-stage propulsion anomaly resulted in the spacecraft being delivered to an orbit lower than intended.
The Federal Aviation Administration subsequently oversaw a mishap investigation associated with that flight.
The investigation identified a cryogenic leak that affected a hydraulic line and caused an upper-stage thrust anomaly. The FAA announced closure of that investigation in May.
The subsequent May 28 ground-testing accident was a separate event involving a different vehicle and the first-stage propulsion system.
These developments are documented in New Space Economy’s examination of New Glenn’s return-to-flight plans.
Amazon Leo and the Next New Glenn Mission
Amazon has contracted Blue Origin to provide launch services for its Amazon Leo satellite broadband constellation.
The constellation is designed to deliver internet connectivity using thousands of satellites operating in low Earth orbit.
Amazon has also contracted launches from United Launch Alliance, Arianespace, and SpaceX.
New Glenn’s next flight is expected to carry Amazon Leo spacecraft, resuming Blue Origin’s participation in the constellation’s deployment program.
The launch will also be the first New Glenn mission conducted using the reconstructed launch infrastructure and revised vehicle-processing arrangements.
Blue Origin is separately developing additional New Glenn infrastructure in Florida, including a second launch pad and facilities supporting its larger 9×4 vehicle.
The company’s November 2026 schedule revision establishes January 2027 as the target for New Glenn’s fourth flight and its return to orbital launch operations.
