Blue Origin launchpad damage may delay recovery until 2028

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Blue Origin’s damaged launchpad may not be restored until 2028 after the company’s New Glenn rocket exploded during a hotfire test last week in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Isaacman said the recovery will likely take significant time, though he described 2028 as a possible timeline for repairs. He made the remarks during an interview at the CNBC CEO Council Summit and later reiterated them on social media. The incident matters for Blue Origin’s role in NASA’s Artemis program, which includes planned lunar missions and cargo deliveries. Blue Origin says some parts of the facility remain usable and that it intends to rebuild and fly again later this year.