Industry2 min read
Blue Origin Cleared to Fly New Glenn After April Engine Failure
Tags Infrastructure · Defense Tech
TechCrunch·
Blue Origin has been cleared to resume New Glenn mega-rocket flights after an April 2026 engine failure caused the loss of an AST SpaceMobile satellite. Jeff Bezos' company confirmed the engine failure cause but provided limited detail.
Technical significance
Regulatory clearance for New Glenn restores Blue Origin's heavy-lift capability, which is essential for its NASA lunar lander contract and Department of Defense launch commitments. The AST SpaceMobile satellite loss highlights the financial risks of launch failures in the commercial satellite communications sector.