Blue Origin’s New Glenn grounded after satellite ‘mishap’: Here’s what went wrong

Blue Origin’s newest rocket has been grounded following the investigation of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) orders after a failed satellite launch. 

The company led by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos attempted to deploy an AST SpaceMobile satellite using its New Glenn Rocket, but the vehicle failed to reach its intended altitude. 

In this regard, Blue Origin chief executive Dave Limp said the failure was caused by lack of “sufficient thrust” in an engine.

A spokesperson for the authority said: “The FAA is requiring Blue Origin to conduct a mishap investigation.

“The FAA will oversee the Blue Origin-led investigation, be involved in every step of the process and approve Blue Origin's final report, including any corrective actions.”

The FAA has grounded Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket following its third flight. Future launches are suspended pending an investigation into why the rocket failed its mission.

The rocket was carrying an AST satellite designed for mobile phone connectivity. Because it was deployed into a lower-than-intended orbit, the satellite is now unusable. While AST confirmed the loss is covered by insurance, the specific financial impact and the cost of the satellite have not been disclosed.

Despite this setback, Blue Origin has aggressive goals, including a planned dozen launches this year and the eventual development of thousands of satellites for its TerraWave project. 

Amazon is heavily investing in the sector, recently acquiring a satellite manufacturer for $11 billion to bolster its own satellite project, LEO. 

Both Blue Origin and Amazon are racing to catch up with Elon Musk’s Starlink, which currently dominates the market with thousands of operational satellites. Starlink’s parent company, SpaceX, is expected to go public later this year, potentially resulting in a record-breaking stock market listing.