Blue Origin cleared to launch New Glenn rocket again after FAA investigation - Engadget

New Glenn was grounded after its third mission failed to place its payload into the intended orbit. During NG-3, the AST SpaceMobile satellite separated from the rocket but ended up in an off-nominal orbit with altitude too low to sustain operations, leading to de-orbiting. The FAA opened an investigation and later accepted a corrective report and measures implemented by Blue Origin. Blue Origin stated that NG-4 preparations continue and that the FAA approved the report for the flight. Blue Origin attributed the problem to an off-nominal thermal condition before the second upper-stage burn, which prevented one BE-3U engine from achieving full thrust to reach the target orbit.

"NG-4 preparations continue - updates coming soon," Blue Origin wrote, talking about the rocket's next flight. Back in April, the company successfully reused its first-stage New Glenn booster for the first time for New Glenn's third mission (NG-3). Everything seemed to be going well until it was time to put the AST SpaceMobile satellite the vehicle was carrying into orbit."

"Blue Origin announced at the time that the vehicle placed the satellite "into an off-nominal orbit." AST SpaceMobile revealed later on that its satellite separated from the vehicle, but its "altitude [was] too low to sustain operations with its on-board thruster technology and will de-orbited.""

"The FAA grounded New Glenn after the incident, which it called a "mishap," and opened an investigation to "determine the root cause of the event and identify corrective actions." Shortly after the event, Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said early data suggested that on the second burn of the rocket's upper stage, one of its BE-3U engines didn't produce sufficient thrust to reach its target orbit."

""Prior to our second GS2 burn, we experienced an off-nominal thermal condition, and, as a result, one of the BE-3U engines didn't achieve full thrust to reach our target orbit," Blue Origin wrote. The company's new post on X echoes his announcement."

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