Blue Origin blames New Glenn fireball on engine oxygen valve

Blue Origin has pinpointed the main oxygen valve on one of its BE-4 engines as the source of the May New Glenn pad explosion. CEO Dave Limp confirmed the finding, but did not elaborate on the valve's failure or the path to recovery. The New Glenn rocket, which uses seven BE-4 engines for its first stage, was undergoing a preflight hotfire test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Launch Complex 36 when the incident occurred.

The blast obliterated the rocket and surrounding ground equipment. In the wake of the explosion, Blue Origin has accelerated efforts to rebuild the facility, with CEO Limp stating the company remains on track to launch in 2026. The new pad will enable a revised integration process, with stages assembled horizontally and rolled out before the payload is attached vertically.

Blue Origin has also completed extensive component-level and engine hotfire tests to better understand the failure mode and inform necessary modifications. The valve will undergo minor alterations that can be retrofitted to existing engines, with updated hardware set to be ready by the end of the month. Although ULA utilizes two BE-4 engines on its Vulcan rocket, the company has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the need for similar valve modifications on its stock.