A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket is prepared for launch at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., April 18, 2026.
Joe Skipper | Reuters
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin has delayed a return to flight for its New Glenn rocket to January 2027, later than its earlier target of the end of this year, as it rushes to recover from a major explosion in May.
Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp told employees in a memo Wednesday that the company’s launch timing slipped as a result of delays with reconstructing its Cape Canaveral launch pad, including bad weather over the summer.
“This small adjustment doesn’t diminish what we’ve accomplished or the importance of the work still ahead,” Limp wrote in the memo, which was viewed by CNBC. “Returning New Glenn to flight remains our top priority.”
The Financial Times earlier reported the memo. The January 2027 timeframe is about 10 days later than Blue Origin’s earlier launch target, a source familiar with the matter told CNBC.
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