Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket explosion ruled a manufacturing defect, not sabotage, says internal investigation
- The Federal Aviation Administration closed its investigation into the September 2022 New Shepard booster failure, confirming the root cause was a thermal structural failure of the engine nozzle due to a manufacturing flaw, not external interference.
- The anomaly triggered the capsule's emergency escape system, which worked perfectly, saving the payload of NASA research experiments and proving the system's reliability for future crewed flights.
- No injuries were reported, and Blue Origin has since implemented corrective measures, including redesigning the nozzle cooling system, to ensure the booster returns to flight in the coming months.
- The incident cost Blue Origin over a year of grounded operations and millions in lost revenue, but also generated renewed public interest in suborbital space tourism safety.
- Analysts predict this will not deter Blue Origin's long-term plans, with multiple crewed missions scheduled for 2024 once the FAA grants a new launch license.