Blue Origin Pushes Next New Glenn Launch To January 2027
A memo from CEO Dave Limp sets a January target after a May launchpad explosion disrupted Blue Origin’s plans for a 2026 flight.
Blue Origin is now targeting January 2027 for its next New Glenn launch, missing its earlier goal of returning the rocket to flight before the end of this year. Engadget and The Verge report that the revised timing comes from an internal memo by CEO Dave Limp. The delay follows a May explosion at the company’s Florida launchpad that damaged infrastructure needed for another flight.
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How the launch target changed
Engadget reports that the explosion occurred during a hot test and that Limp initially expected repairs to be completed quickly enough for a launch in 2026. The Verge says the incident happened ahead of a planned flight carrying Amazon Leo satellites into space.
As recently as October, Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos was publicly aiming for a December launch, according to The Verge. Citing CNBC, The Verge says the January window is about 10 days later than the company’s previous target. Neither report gives a specific launch date in January.
Launchpad repairs and weather
Limp’s memo describes substantial progress at the damaged site. According to Engadget, the launchpad’s Vehicle Access Tower has been repaired and restacked, while the launch bridge has been restored. Both Engadget and The Verge say Limp identified bad weather as a factor that slowed the rebuilding work.
The memo also framed the remaining delay as a limited change to a broader return-to-flight effort. The Verge reports that Limp told staff the schedule adjustment did not lessen the work already completed and that getting New Glenn flying again remains Blue Origin’s top priority. Engadget says he praised the team’s progress over the six months since the incident. The reports do not say that all repairs are complete or that New Glenn has been cleared to launch.
Flights waiting on New Glenn
The delayed launch affects a rocket with several planned uses. Engadget says New Glenn rockets are slated to carry additional equipment for Amazon’s Leo satellite broadband service. The Verge identifies an Amazon Leo satellite mission as the flight that had been planned when the May launchpad explosion occurred.
Engadget also reports that Blue Origin won a NASA contract in September to establish a telecommunications network for Mars. The reports do not specify whether the January target changes the schedule for that work. For now, the concrete update is Blue Origin’s revised return-to-flight goal: a New Glenn launch in January rather than before the end of 2026.
Sources
This story was compiled by AI from the reports below. Read the originals for the full details.