NASA Aids Blue Origin Probe Into New Glenn Explosion, Points to Engine Issue

NASA is actively supporting the investigation into the May 28 explosion of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, Administrator Jared Isaacman confirmed Sunday. Investigators have already identified a potential engine issue as the likely cause, a finding that carries direct consequences for the timeline of NASA's Artemis moon program.

The New Glenn heavy rocket exploded during a test on May 28, producing a massive fireball that destroyed the vehicle and significantly damaged the launch site. No one was killed or injured, but the malfunction threatened the schedule to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years. The rocket and its payload could be selected for Artemis IV, the first crewed lunar landing since 1972.

Speaking on CBS's Face the Nation, Isaacman said NASA had been involved from the outset. "NASA has been playing a role in this from the beginning. We've helped provide subject matter experts to Blue Origin. We're helping with anomaly investigation on the rocket. We're helping with pad rebuild," he said. He was on-site with Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp the morning after the incident.

Isaacman said the company was closing in on the cause. "They're going to get their arms around the anomaly. They've honed in already on a potential engine issue. They're going to solve that," he said. He stressed the urgency of maintaining progress, adding, "Most importantly, we're helping continue to move the lander along. We can't slow down," a reference to Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander.

The New Glenn rocket is the only launch vehicle capable of carrying Blue Moon due to its wide payload fairing. It will be used to launch the Blue Moon test lander for Artemis III, planned for 2027, and would be used again should NASA select Blue Moon for the crewed landing on Artemis IV, planned for 2028. That makes the rocket's reliability central to the program.

The Artemis sequence continues after Artemis II, in which astronauts flew by the moon in the Orion spacecraft launched by NASA's Space Launch System. Artemis III will test docking with the lunar lander, with two landers tested in low Earth orbit rather than during a lunar flyby. Blue Origin and SpaceX are both vying to have their lander selected for the full lunar landing in Artemis IV.

Isaacman framed the stakes in terms of the program's near-term goals. "We've got to keep the lander progressing and ensure we have the right outcome," he said, "which is a successful Artemis III mission. And then we land on Artemis IV." His decision to personally track and publicly discuss the investigation underscores how much the agency's lunar timeline depends on resolving the New Glenn failure.

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, with attention focused on the potential engine issue Isaacman described. NASA continues to assist with the anomaly investigation and the rebuild of the damaged launch pad, while working to keep the Blue Moon lander on schedule for Artemis III in 2027 and a possible landing role on Artemis IV in 2028.