NASA chief praises progress Blue Origin is making after launch failure
NASA Chief Bill Nelson commended Blue Origin for its progress and safety improvements following a New Shepard launch failure in September 2022. The rocket, which experienced an anomaly during an uncrewed flight, is undergoing investigation and corrective measures. Nelson expressed confidence in the company's path forward under its new CEO.
Background
- Blue Origin is the private space company founded by Jeff Bezos (Amazon), competing with SpaceX and others in the commercial launch market. Its main rocket is New Glenn, a heavy-lift vehicle designed to carry satellites and cargo to orbit.
- The article refers to a recent launch failure of New Glenn — a significant setback for Blue Origin, which has been slower than rivals to reach orbit reliably.
- NASA's public praise matters because Blue Origin is a major contractor for NASA programs, including the Human Landing System for the Artemis Moon missions. NASA endorsing their progress signals confidence in the company's recovery and its role in U.S. space strategy.
- The broader context: Blue Origin has long been criticized for a slow, cautious engineering culture compared to SpaceX's rapid iteration. The company has restructured and accelerated development under new CEO Dave Limp (ex-Amazon).