Blue Origin now expects its next New Glenn launch in January 2027.
CEO Dave Limp cites weather-related repair setbacks after a May launchpad explosion damaged Blue Origin’s Florida infrastructure.
The New Glenn delay will extend into 2027, with Blue Origin now expecting its next launch in January. Chief executive Dave Limp outlined the revised schedule in an internal memo.
A rocket exploded during a hot-test on its Florida launchpad in May 2026, damaging the company’s infrastructure. After the incident, Limp said repairs would finish quickly and the next launch would happen before year-end.
However, the new timetable moves the return to flight beyond that target. Limp attributed the slower repair progress to weather problems.
New Glenn delay follows launchpad repairs
The memo says teams have repaired and restacked the launchpad’s Vehicle Access Tower. They have also restored the launch bridge as work continues towards the next flight.
Despite the revised schedule, Limp praised employees for their recovery efforts. He said the team had completed work in six months that many had expected to take years.
Meanwhile, Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin has commitments that will expand its space operations once launches resume. In September, NASA awarded the company a contract to establish a telecommunications network for Mars.
New Glenn rockets are also scheduled to carry more equipment into space for Amazon’s Leo satellite broadband service. Those missions add to the company’s planned work as it prepares to return to flight.
