【AI前沿】Blue Origin cleared to fly New Glenn mega-rocket after April mishap

In BriefPosted:2:37 PM PDT · May 22, 2026Image Credits:Blue OriginSean O’KaneBlue Origin cleared to fly New Glenn mega-rocket after April mishapBlue Origin’s new mega-rocket, New Glenn, is no longer grounded. The company said Friday that the Federal Aviation Administration has cleared the rocket to fly again after the upper stage failed to deliver a commercial payload during an April launch.Blue Origin didn’t offer much detail butsaid in a poston X that the New Glenn upper stage “experienced an off-nominal thermal condition” that caused one of the three rocket engines to produce lower-than-expected thrust. As a result, the AST SpaceMobile satellite that Blue Origin was supposed to put into orbit instead burned up in Earth’s atmosphere. (AST SpaceMobile said it had insurance coverage that covered the cost of the lost satellite.) Jeff Bezos’ spaceflight company submitted a report to the FAA and took “corrective measures,” but did not detail what those measures were.The mishap came on what was New Glenn’s third-ever flight, which otherwise went off without a problem. The companysuccessfully reused the New Glennbooster stage for the first time ever and landed it for a second time on a drone ship in the ocean.The clearance means Blue Origin can now get back to its aggressive schedule for New Glenn this year. The company has said it plans to launch the rocket as many as 12 times by the end of 2026, though it’s unclear how much of an effect the one-month grounding has had on those ambitions.TopicsBlue Origin,In Brief,new glenn,SpaceMay 27Athens, GreeceStrictlyVC Athens is up next. Hear unfiltered insights straight from Europe’s tech leaders and connect with the people shaping what’s ahead. Lock in your spot before it’s gone.REGISTER NOWNewslettersSee MoreSubscribe for the industry’s biggest tech newsTechCrunch Daily NewsEvery weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage.TechCrunch MobilityTechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight.Startups WeeklyStartups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly.StrictlyVCProvides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day.No newsletters selected.SubscribeBy submitting your email, you agree to ourTermsandPrivacy Notice.RelatedSpaceFAA orders investigation into Blue Origin’s New Glenn mishapSean O’KaneApr 20, 2026SpaceBlue Origin’s New Glenn put a customer satellite in the wrong orbit during its third launchSean O’KaneApr 19, 2026SpaceBlue Origin successfully reuses a New Glenn rocket for the first time everSean O’KaneApr 19, 2026Latest in SpaceSpaceSpaceX launches Starship V3 for the first time, but loses booster on returnSean O’Kane1 hour agoIn BriefBlue Origin cleared to fly New Glenn mega-rocket after April mishapSean O’Kane2 hours agoSpaceSpaceX scrubs first Starship V3 launch just before liftoffSean O’Kane24 hours ago