Amazon turns to Jeff Bezos' other company to do some heavy lifting

Blue Origin’s New Glenn failure investigation has been closed by the Federal Aviation Administration and Blue Origin. The next New Glenn mission is planned to launch 48 commercial satellites for Amazon’s broadband network into low-Earth orbit. The launch is expected to occur as soon as June 4 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, based on public airspace and maritime closure notices. Blue Origin plans to roll the rocket to the pad for a test firing of its seven main engines using liquified natural gas and liquid oxygen. The mission will place the satellites a few hundred miles above Earth, indicating a rapid turnaround after a previous launch failure. ULA’s Vulcan remains grounded after anomalies affecting solid rocket boosters and limited launch cadence.

"The Federal Aviation Administration and Blue Origin announced the closure of the failure investigation May 22. Yesterday, officials confirmed Blue Origin's next launch will loft a payload of 48 commercial satellites for Amazon's broadband network in low-Earth orbit. This will be the most satellites Amazon has launched on a single rocket, surpassing previous flights on United Launch Alliance's Atlas V, SpaceX's Falcon 9, and Europe's Ariane 6."

"Blue Origin and Amazon, each founded by Jeff Bezos, have not officially revealed a target launch date, but public notices of airspace and maritime closures suggest the mission is set to lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, as soon as next Thursday, June 4. Blue Origin is expected to roll the New Glenn rocket to its launch pad in the coming days for a test-firing of its seven main engines, fueled by liquified natural gas and liquid oxygen."

"When it does fly, the New Glenn rocket will aim to release the 48 Amazon Leo satellites into an orbit a few hundred miles above Earth. A turnaround of less than two months, especially after a launch failure, would be a good sign that Blue Origin is ramping up the launch cadence for New Glenn."

"Another heavy orbital-class rocket developed at the same time as New Glenn, ULA's Vulcan, has struggled to sustain even a meager launch cadence since debuting in 2024. Two of the four Vulcan launches to date have suffered anomalies with solid rocket boosters, and although the missions succeeded in placing their payloads into orbit, the launcher is grounded as ULA an"

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