Nearly one month don pass since New Glenn rocket explode for im launch pad for Florida, wey create big fireball. Dis one na probably di biggest rocket explosion wey ever happen for dat historic Florida spaceport, and we still dey deal with di fallout.
Di explosion don destroy di only launch pad wey New Glenn get, wey be LC-36A. So even if Blue Origin fit quickly find di cause of di failure, dem no get any place to launch New Glenn rocket from. Company officials, including founder Jeff Bezos, don talk say di rocket go return to flight for LC-36A before di end of dis year, but plenty people dey doubt dat timeline.
Meanwhile, we get more questions than answers about dis rocket wey don become very important for NASA and commercial customers. Wetin dis failure mean for Artemis Program wey dey plan to land humans for Moon? Wetin we know about di timing of Artemis III and di lunar landing mission, Artemis IV? And wetin about di Moon base? Besides NASA, wetin about customers wey don line up for super heavy lift launch alternative to SpaceX Falcon rockets? Dis include Amazon Project Leo constellation, AST SpaceMobile, and oda constellation companies.
Finally, Blue Origin don talk almost nothing for public about di cause of New Glenn failure during im static fire test. But sources don indicate say e be problem wey relate to di rocket main engines. Di BE-4 rocket engines also power United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket. So wetin be di implications for dat vehicle?
To discuss all dis questions, join me and two of di smartest independent people for di space industry: We go get frank and fun discussion about all dis for Tuesday, June 30, at 1 pm ET.
