Blue Origin Aborts Uncrewed Launch Mid-Ascension Due to Anomaly on Thursday.
(West Texas, TX) — On Thursday, January 16, 2025, aerospace company Blue Origin experienced a launch anomaly resulting in the automatic abort of its uncrewed New Shepard rocket mission. The incident occurred at approximately 10:35 AM Central Standard Time from the company's Launch Site One facility near Van Horn, Texas, during the ascent phase of the NS-29 flight.
According to a statement from Blue Origin, the vehicle's onboard flight termination system triggered a safe shutdown after detecting an unspecified technical malfunction. No personnel were aboard, and no injuries have been reported. The capsule, which carries scientific payloads, successfully separated and deployed its parachutes for a nominal landing in the desert. The rocket booster, however, was lost after the abort sequence, per company officials.
An investigation is now underway, led by Blue Origin in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The mission, which was intended to test new sensor technologies for lunar navigation, has been postponed indefinitely. What caused the anomaly remains unclear, as engineers analyze telemetry data.