Blue Origin halts its New Glenn rocket flights after a satellite launch failure. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) orders a full investigation into the “mishap.”
Jeff Bezos’ company tried to launch an AST SpaceMobile satellite into orbit. The rocket failed to reach the proper altitude. CEO Dave Limp blames insufficient engine thrust.
AST SpaceMobile’s stock plunged over 6% on Monday. Limp admits, “We didn’t deliver the mission our customer expected.”
The incident occurred Sunday during New Glenn’s third flight. Blue Origin planned twelve launches this year. Now the FAA oversees their investigation.
A FAA spokesperson confirms close supervision. “The FAA requires Blue Origin to investigate every step,” they state. “We approve the final report and corrective actions.”
Limp promises quick fixes. “We’ll learn from the data and return to flight soon,” he says. The FAA decides when launches resume.
The satellite aimed for low-earth orbit mobile connectivity. Since New Glenn underperformed, the satellite becomes unusable. AST claims insurance covers the loss.
Tech giants race to deploy satellite internet. Blue Origin plans thousands of TerraWave satellites. Amazon bought a satellite firm for $11 billion to build Leo.
Both trail Starlink. Elon Musk’s network already beams internet worldwide with thousands of satellites. SpaceX eyes a massive public listing soon.
