Blue Origin cleared to resume New Glenn launches following FAA investigation
The US Federal Aviation Administration has authorised Blue Origin to return to flight operations, ending a grounding that followed the failure to place an AST SpaceMobile satellite into the correct orbit.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has cleared Blue Origin to resume launches of its New Glenn rocket, concluding a regulatory pause that began after the vehicle’s third mission encountered a significant malfunction. The agency’s approval follows a comprehensive investigation into the incident, which the FAA classified as a mishap, and the acceptance of the corrective measures implemented by the aerospace manufacturer.
The grounding was initiated after New Glenn failed to place its payload, the AST SpaceMobile satellite, into the intended orbit during the NG-3 flight. The satellite separated from the vehicle but was deposited into an off-nominal orbit with an altitude too low to sustain operations using its onboard thruster technology, ultimately leading to its de-orbiting. The FAA stated that the direct cause of the mishap was a cryogenic leak that froze a hydraulic line, resulting in a thrust anomaly during the second-stage engine burn.
Blue Origin has since implemented nine corrective actions to address the root cause and prevent recurrence. In a statement to SpaceNews, the FAA confirmed that its final report identified the hydraulic freeze as the primary driver of the thrust deficiency. The agency’s clearance allows the company to move forward with concrete planning for the fourth flight, designated NG-4.
Prior to the official FAA conclusion, Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp noted that early data indicated one of the BE-3U engines did not produce sufficient thrust during the second burn of the upper stage. The company echoed this assessment in a post on X, describing an off-nominal thermal condition that prevented the engine from achieving full thrust. The firm has now confirmed that the FAA approved its report and accepted the corrective measures taken.
Preparations for the upcoming NG-4 mission are underway, with the company recently posting video footage of the Transporter Erector undergoing refurbishment. Limp indicated that Blue Origin is preparing for integrated hotfire testing of the system. While the specific timeline for the NG-4 launch has not yet been announced, the regulatory green light marks a significant step in restoring the New Glenn programme’s operational cadence.
