Jeff Bezos publicly thanked NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman over the weekend for visiting Blue Origin's Launch Complex 36 and supporting the company's workforce after a catastrophic New Glenn rocket static-fire explosion damaged the Cape Canaveral site.
Isaacman Visits Blue Origin Blast Zone
Isaacman visited Blue Origin's Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, to inspect the damage and meet workers following Thursday night's blast. The May 28 incident occurred during a planned ground static-fire test of a New Glenn rocket booster, producing a large fireball that lit up the night sky.
The NASA Administrator visited the blast zone with Bezos and Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp, who surveyed the damage and spoke with affected engineers. In an X post Saturday, Isaacman said NASA would not "sit on its hands" while partners worked through the setback.
Bezos Vows Return To Flight And Moon
He said NASA would take an active role alongside Blue Origin to troubleshoot the anomaly, protect national space priorities and help return New Glenn to flight safely. Isaacman also expressed confidence in the company, saying U.S. space achievements came from overcoming setbacks and that "we will do it again."
Quoting Isaacman's post, Bezos replied, "Thank you for being here today. Your support means a lot to the whole team. We will get back to flight, and we will get to the Moon. Gradatim Ferociter." Gradatim Ferociter is a Latin phrase that translates to “Step by step, ferociously.”
Explosion Threatens Bezos Space Ambitions
Reuters reported Saturday that Blue Origin faces a months-long setback after the explosion damaged its launch pad, scrambling schedules for Amazon satellite launches and strengthening SpaceX's dominance in the commercial launch market.
The mishap came during an engine test for New Glenn's planned launch next week, at a critical time for Bezos' space and retail empire. Blue Origin and Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) are trying to challenge Elon Musk's SpaceX in heavy-lift launch and satellite internet.
A booster named "No, It's Necessary," a nod to "Interstellar," was destroyed. One person familiar with the matter told Reuters the launch pad was "practically destroyed" and engineers expected at least a six-month disruption, if not longer.
The accident also came days after NASA awarded Blue Origin a contract to help build and deliver early infrastructure for a permanent moon base, part of the agency's first major commercial procurement push under its revised Artemis program.
Photo Courtesy: Lev Radin on Shutterstock.com
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