Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin announced that last week’s rocket explosion at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station left some critical parts of the launch pad unharmed. Despite the destruction of a lightning tower and the transporter-erector, the company’s massive New Glenn rocket spared fuel tanks and other important sections during the blast.

NASA’s Artemis moon program relies heavily on Blue Origin’s New Glenn line, making this news significant. The explosion occurred during an engine-firing test, and CEO Dave Limp provided reassurances about the situation. He noted that the methane, hydrogen, and oxygen tanks are undamaged, and the water tank is also in good condition. The support tower, although affected, can be repaired in-place.

Fortunately, nearby rocket components and boosters were not harmed. Limp commented on these developments in an update on X, expressing optimism about resuming operations soon: “We will fly again before the end of this year.” However, the exact cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

Two days before the explosion, NASA awarded Blue Origin a contract worth hundreds of millions to use New Glenn rockets for launching rovers to the moon, prior to the arrival of Artemis moonwalkers. Additionally, New Glenn will play a role in launching Blue Moon landers, crucial for transporting astronauts to the lunar surface in upcoming missions.

NASA targets a moon landing as early as 2028. Administrator Jared Isaacman mentioned that the agency is committed to restoring the launch pad quickly while ensuring the progress of the lunar lander. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rockets have flown only three times, and they are smaller compared to SpaceX’s Starship, which is undergoing test flights in Texas. NASA plans to use Starships along with Blue Moon landers for future Artemis missions.

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