FAA closes investigation of Blue Origin launch failure - Space
But that doesn't mean the company's New Shepard rocket is ready to start flying again.
www.space.comHere’s the latest I can provide based on recent publicly reported developments.
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FAA investigation into Blue Origin incidents continues to be active as of 2026, with authorities ordering or overseeing mishap investigations tied to specific launches and requiring corrective actions before flight resumption. This reflects ongoing safety oversight rather than a complete shutdown of the company’s activities.
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In April 2026, Reuters reported the FAA ordered a mishap investigation into Blue Origin’s New Glenn 3 second-stage failure, and Blue Origin must complete final corrective actions and obtain FAA approval before resuming flights. This indicates continued regulatory scrutiny around Blue Origin’s launches.
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Historical context: past FAA actions around Blue Origin, including the closeout of the 2022 New Shepard investigation with a set of corrective actions, show a pattern of regulatory activity tied to engine and nozzle design and organizational safety improvements before flight readiness. This background helps explain the current processes that govern any new flight activity.
If you’d like, I can pull the most recent official FAA statements and Blue Origin press releases to provide precise dates, actions required, and timelines for when flight operations might resume. I can also summarize what the 21+ corrective actions typically cover in these investigations (e.g., engine/nozzle redesign, testing requirements, and safety-cculture improvements) with citations.