Blue Origin blames New Glenn explosion on faulty engine valve
Posted: Sun, Aug 9, 2026, 10:34 AM ET (1434 GMT)
Blue Origin has traced the explosion of a New Glenn rocket during a static-fire test to a valve in a BE-4 engine. Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said in a social media post Wednesday that the investigation into the May 28 explosion concluded the problem started in the main liquid oxygen valve in one of the rocket's seven BE-4 engines. He did not disclose specifics of the problem but said the company is making "small modifications" to the valve that will be incorporated into engines that have already been produced. The BE-4 is used by both New Glenn and United Launch Alliance's Vulcan, although Vulcan has been out of service since an unrelated problem with a solid rocket booster on a February launch.
Blue Origin has traced the explosion of a New Glenn rocket during a static-fire test to a valve in a BE-4 engine. Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said in a social media post Wednesday that the investigation into the May 28 explosion concluded the problem started in the main liquid oxygen valve in one of the rocket's seven BE-4 engines. He did not disclose specifics of the problem but said the company is making "small modifications" to the valve that will be incorporated into engines that have already been produced. The BE-4 is used by both New Glenn and United Launch Alliance's Vulcan, although Vulcan has been out of service since an unrelated problem with a solid rocket booster on a February launch.
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