Blue Origin to Proceed with New Glenn Rocket Using Novel Approach

American private aerospace company Blue Origin has said it will adopt a hybrid horizontal-vertical launch concept for its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket as it seeks to resume flights later this year. Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp stated on social media platform X that the company will not rebuild the damaged Launch Complex 36 in the US state of Florida to its previous configuration following a major anomaly during a hot-fire test of the New Glenn engine on 28 May. The New Glenn rocket exploded on the launch pad during the hot-fire test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Limp said the investigation into the anomaly is ongoing, with initial analysis pointing to the aft section of the rocket’s first stage. He said that to return New Glenn to flight this year, Blue Origin will not rebuild the same pad but will instead switch to a hybrid horizontal-vertical configuration, a new concept that has the added benefit of increasing launch frequency. Blue Origin is a primary commercial partner in NASA’s Artemis lunar programme. The explosion during the May test could delay future New Glenn missions and potentially affect the schedule of several NASA lunar exploration missions, according to media reports.