Commercial Space Company
Appears in 4 stories
New Glenn grounded by FAA; under investigation for NG-3 upper-stage engine failure
Blue Origin flew a previously used New Glenn booster for the first time on April 19, 2026, becoming the second company ever to reuse an orbital-class rocket stage. The booster, 'Never Tell Me the Odds,' first flew in November 2025 and landed successfully again on the drone ship Jacklyn roughly ten minutes after liftoff from Cape Canaveral. One engine on the expendable upper stage didn't produce enough thrust during its second burn, leaving AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 7 stranded in an orbit too low for the satellite's electric thrusters to correct.
Updated May 31
Won $188M for two-rover delivery via Blue Moon Mark 1
NASA awarded $627 million on May 27 to four U.S. companies for the first hardware of a permanent moon base. The contracts cover rovers, crewed terrain vehicles, and drones meant to land on the Moon before astronauts arrive.
Updated May 27
Competing lander provider for NASA Artemis program
SpaceX scrubbed the first V3 launch attempt on May 21 when a hydraulic pin on the launch tower arm failed to retract at T-40 seconds. The company repaired the fault overnight and rescheduled the debut of Booster 19 and Ship 39 for May 22 from Starbase Pad 2.
Updated May 22
Operator of New Shepard; using cadence and inclusion to widen the market and narrative
On December 20, 2025, Blue Origin flew New Shepard NS-37—and a line quietly snapped. Michaela "Michi" Benthaus became the first wheelchair user to cross the Kármán line, float free in microgravity, and come home safely.
Updated May 15
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