Blue Origin launch pad repairs could take 'serious time', NASA chief tells CNBC

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman warned on Monday that repairs to Blue Origin’s launch pad, severely damaged during the explosion of its New Glenn rocket last week, will require 'serious time' to complete. The incident occurred during a routine static hot-fire test at a U.S. Space Force facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday, resulting in a colossal fireball that destroyed the launch infrastructure. Industry sources reported the launch pad was 'practically destroyed,' with repairs expected to disrupt operations for at least six months. Isaacman suggested a 2028 timeline for recovery remains plausible, though no injuries or payload integration involving Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites were reported. The New Glenn rocket, named after astronaut John Glenn, is a critical component of NASA’s Artemis moon missions, intended to deliver lunar landers and cargo. Its development is part of billionaire Jeff Bezos’ effort to compete with SpaceX in private space launch services. The explosion occurred during preparations for the rocket’s fourth orbital flight since January 2025, marking a setback for Blue Origin’s ambitions in the space industry. The U.S. Space Force facility in Florida remains the primary launch site for the program.