Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Grounded Following Orbital Mishap
The FAA has intervened to ground Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket after a launch incident resulted in its payload being placed in an incorrect orbit.
On April 20, 2026, Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket was launched, but the mission encountered a significant issue when its payload was delivered to the wrong orbit.
In response to this mishap, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has taken the step of grounding the rocket, prompting an investigation into the malfunction.
The incident raises concerns about the reliability of the New Glenn rocket, which is part of Blue Origin's efforts in the space industry, led by billionaire Jeff Bezos.
Updates
Update at 19:53 UTC on 2026-04-20
Phys.org reported Jeff Bezos' rocket company, Blue Origin, blamed a bad engine Monday for a failed weekend launch that left a satellite in the wrong orbit, dooming it.
Sources: Phys.org
Update at 01:52 UTC on 2026-04-21
DW News reported US aviation regulators have ordered Blue Origin, a space company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, to investigate a malfunction in the upper stage of its New Glenn rocket.
Sources: DW News