What changed
2026-07-26 10:08 UTC → 2026-07-31 03:46 UTC ·
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After Following the 28 May 2026 New Glenn static‑fire explosion that destroyed launch‑pad LC‑36A, Blue Origin, NASA and the U.S. Space Force began reconstruction, with reconstructing New Glenn. An independent estimates targeting review still targets a launch later in 2026. In early July the company closed a $10 billion equity round round, valuing it Blue Origin at roughly about $130 billion—Jeff billion; Jeff Bezos contributed $2 billion, Coatue Management $4 billion and other investors $4 billion. The funds capital will rebuild fund rebuilding the launch pad, repair repairing New Glenn and enable the supporting a new horizontal‑vertical lift concept. A 25 July update adds that the financing will also back an ambitious operational plan: Blue Origin targets Origin’s operational plan aims for up to 100 flights per year, will build the 5,408‑satellite TeraWave broadband constellation, develop lunar landing ships for NASA’s Artemis program, and supply components component delivery for the Orbital Reef space‑station. CEO Dave Limp reiterated confidence that New Glenn will fly by the end of 2026. On 29 July, Blue Origin and NASA signed an agreement to use NASA’s historic B‑2 test stand at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi for hot‑fire testing of New Glenn’s upper stage. The move follows the Cape Canaveral pad accident and will relocate second‑stage testing to the Apollo‑era facility, which previously supported Saturn V, Shuttle and SLS core‑stage tests. Retrofit work will accommodate New Glenn’s two BE‑3 engines, with testing slated to begin in the fall. The partnership supports both agencies’ Artemis objectives and is intended to keep the rocket’s development timeline on track.