Blue Origin's launchpad at Cape Canaveral, which suffered an explosion on May 28, may not be operational until 2028, according to NASA's administrator, Jared Isaacman. However, the company's CEO, Dave Limp, asserts that the New Glenn rocket will be ready for flight before the end of this year. Limp announced this optimistic timeline on social media, stating that the company has regained access to the launchpad to begin repairs and investigations.
The explosion occurred during a hotfire test for New Glenn, marking a setback after the rocket had already faced grounding by the Federal Aviation Administration due to a previous mission failure. Isaacman visited the damaged facility, known as Launch Complex 36, on May 29 to assess the situation and discuss the next steps with the team.
While the support tower has sustained damage, Limp indicated that it can be repaired without complete replacement. He also mentioned that the rocket's fuel tanks and associated infrastructure remain intact, which is crucial for future launches. Blue Origin is a key player in NASA's Artemis and Moon Base initiatives, with the New Glenn rocket slated for important missions in the coming months.