NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has stated that repairs to Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) at Cape Canaveral, damaged in the explosion of the New Glenn rocket, will take a significant amount of time. According to his estimate, the pad may not be fully restored until 2028.

On May 28, during fueling operations and a static fire test of the rocket’s engines, the New Glenn vehicle was completely destroyed in a massive explosion. No personnel were injured, but the ground infrastructure sustained serious damage.

NASA’s Response

In an interview with CNBC, Isaacman said:

“We’re all united around the idea that we want to see Blue Origin succeed. So the launch pad needs to be rebuilt, a thorough analysis of the accident has to be completed, and then we move forward.”

He also noted that NASA is prepared to provide technical expertise and share historical data on launch complex recovery efforts.

Impact on Major Programs

The accident creates significant challenges for several high-profile projects:

  • The Artemis program — Blue Origin had planned to use New Glenn to launch the uncrewed Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander later this year. The timeline may now face substantial delays.
  • Amazon’s Project Kuiper — the company intended to launch 48 satellites for its broadband constellation aboard New Glenn in the near future. Delays could complicate compliance with deadlines set by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Blue Origin currently has only one operational launch site for New Glenn. A second facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California is still under construction.

Market Reaction

Following the news, shares of Amazon fell by more than 6%. Investors are concerned that delays to the Kuiper deployment could weaken its ability to compete with Starlink, operated by SpaceX.

In Brief

According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, restoring the LC-36 launch complex after the New Glenn explosion could take until 2028. The accident threatens the schedules of both NASA’s Artemis program missions and Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellite launches. Blue Origin currently has only one completed launch site for its heavy-lift rocket, and the investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing.