Spacelaunch News

BE-4 oxygen valve blamed for New Glenn explosion, prompting rapid engine fixes

Blue Origin has traced the May explosion of its New Glenn rocket to a liquid oxygen valve on one BE-4 engine, and is conducting extensive tests to understand the failure and inform mitigations. The company plans small retrofits to the valve and has hardware updates ready by the end of the month. Because the BE-4 engine powers ULA’s Vulcan Centaur, the findings could affect that program as well, though ULA has not announced a return-to-flight schedule. Blue Origin remains focused on rebuilding Launch Complex 36 and aiming for New Glenn’s flight return by year’s end.