Blue Origin delayed the return to flight for its New Glenn rocket to January 2027, about ten days later than an earlier target of the end of this year. CEO Dave Limp cited delays in reconstructing the company's Cape Canaveral launchpad, including setbacks from summer weather, according to a memo to employees viewed by CNBC.
A May explosion during a hot-fire test severely damaged the Florida launchpad. The mishap occurred days before Blue Origin was scheduled to deploy 48 satellites for Amazon's Leo internet service. Limp said the company has made significant progress on repairs but noted that rebuilding at the current pace "hasn't been easy."
The delays affect Amazon's Leo constellation buildout. Amazon has contracted with United Launch Alliance and Arianespace as interim providers. SpaceX has also slowed Falcon 9 launches to prioritize Starship testing, limiting competition from that direction.
NASA has contracted Blue Origin for lunar lander services in its Artemis program. Blue Origin announced new Florida facility investments last month aimed at supporting multiple flights per week by the end of the decade.