The second flight of Blue Origin’s massive New Glenn rocket has been pushed back to at least mid-August, CEO Dave Limp announced on Monday. This represents a slight delay from the initial target of a “late spring” launch, as stated back in March.
New Glenn’s first launch took place on January 16, where the rocket’s upper stage successfully reached orbit. However, the booster stage exploded while attempting to land on a drone ship in the ocean.
Following the incident, Blue Origin identified “seven corrective actions” during the investigation required by the Federal Aviation Administration. Limp confirmed that the company will make another attempt to land and recover the booster stage during New Glenn’s second flight, now scheduled for no earlier than August 15.
Originally unveiled in 2016, the New Glenn rocket was initially slated for a 2021 debut. However, delays in the program have hindered its progress. Meanwhile, SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, has emerged as a dominant force in the launch market and is working on its own mega-rocket called Starship.
