The FAA has grounded Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket after it delivered the wrong satellite to a lower-than-planned orbit, causing the satellite to de-orbit. The mishap occurred during the second-stage flight sequence of Sunday's successful launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Blue Origin CEO David Limp stated that early data suggests one of the BE-3U engines failed to produce sufficient thrust, leading to an off-nominal orbit. The company is now investigating the anomaly with FAA oversight and aims to resume operations swiftly.
The incident marks another setback in space missions, following previous groundings of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket and SpaceX’s Starship and Falcon 9. While the booster returned safely, the satellite's failure highlights the complexities involved in orbital deliveries.
AST SpaceMobile has confirmed that their BlueBird 7 satellite is now too low to sustain operations and will de-orbit as a result of the mishap. This development underscores the importance of precise control during space missions.
