Ask Onix
FAA launches investigation into Blue Origin rocket mishap
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered Blue Origin to halt flights of its New Glenn rocket following a failed satellite deployment on Sunday. The incident triggered an immediate probe led by the company under FAA oversight.
What went wrong during the launch
Blue Origin, founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, attempted to place an AST SpaceMobile satellite into low Earth orbit but fell short of the required altitude. The company's CEO, Dave Limp, attributed the failure to insufficient engine thrust, preventing the satellite from reaching its intended position.
The satellite, designed for mobile phone connectivity, is now unusable due to its incorrect orbit. AST SpaceMobile confirmed the loss will be covered by insurance but did not disclose the financial impact.
Market and operational fallout
AST SpaceMobile's share price dropped more than 6% on Monday following the announcement. Limp acknowledged the setback, stating, "We clearly didn't deliver the mission our customer wanted, and our team expects better."
This was only the third flight for the New Glenn rocket, which Blue Origin had planned to launch a dozen times this year. The company is now focused on analyzing data to identify improvements before resuming operations.
FAA oversight and next steps
An FAA spokesperson confirmed the agency will oversee Blue Origin's investigation, requiring approval of the final report and any corrective actions. The FAA will determine when New Glenn can return to flight based on the findings.
"The FAA will be involved in every step of the process and approve Blue Origin's final report, including any corrective actions."
FAA spokesperson
Competition in the satellite connectivity race
The incident occurs as tech companies race to deploy satellite networks for global internet coverage. Blue Origin announced plans earlier this year to launch thousands of satellites under its TerraWave project, aiming to compete with Elon Musk's Starlink, which already operates thousands of satellites.
Amazon, another key player, recently acquired a satellite manufacturer and operator for $11 billion to bolster its Leo project. Starlink, part of Musk's SpaceX, is expected to go public later this year in a potentially record-breaking IPO.
