Blue Origin Optimistic for New Glenn Rocket Flight This Year Despite Recent Explosion

Blue Origin's CEO Dave Limp has expressed optimism that the company's New Glenn rocket will fly again by the end of 2026, despite a recent explosion during testing that destroyed the rocket and damaged its Cape Canaveral launch facility. While the support tower sustained damage, major infrastructure like propellant tanks are intact and the tower can be repaired in place. This recovery is critical for NASA's Artemis program, which relies on Blue Origin for lunar landers, with Artemis III scheduled for 2027 to test rendezvous and docking.