Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin says it will fly again this year after explosion. Nasa needs it to

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket suffered a catastrophic explosion on May 29 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s launch complex 36A, destroying the vehicle and damaging surrounding infrastructure. The blast, visible over 100 miles away, marked a significant setback for NASA’s Artemis III mission, which relies on Blue Origin’s lunar lander, Blue Moon. Despite the severity, Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp stated on June 1 that the company would return to flight before the end of 2026, reaffirming its motto, *Gradatim Ferociter* (Step by step, ferociously). NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman visited the wrecked pad and announced a ‘whole government response’ to aid recovery, deploying experts to assist with the investigation and pad reconstruction. The urgency stems from Artemis III, planned for late 2027, where Blue Moon and SpaceX’s Starship HLS will be tested for potential use in Artemis IV, the first crewed lunar landing since 1972. Without New Glenn operational, NASA faces delays or may need to adapt Blue Moon to an alternative rocket, such as SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy. Blue Origin’s progress has been rapid, with the company emphasizing collaboration with NASA and Space Force support for the rebuild. The disaster prompted comparisons to the 2003 Columbia shuttle tragedy, but Blue Origin’s response has been described as unusually swift. The company’s financial backing from founder Jeff Bezos and military partnerships further bolster its recovery efforts. The explosion also jeopardized Blue Origin’s NASA contract for three construction missions to support a $20 billion lunar base, with the first mission now at risk. NASA’s Artemis program depends on Blue Origin’s ability to deliver critical components on schedule, making the company’s recovery a priority for both the agency and the broader space industry.