Blue Origin's New Shepard Is Grounded Awaiting FAA Approval

A few months after the NS-23 incident, Blue Origin released a full mission report. This outlined what went wrong and what led to an engine failure and the abort of the capsule during New Shepard’s flight. Since then, the company hasn’t said much in regard to the specific mission or progress on the suborbital rocket. That was until yesterday when the FAA provided an update on the vehicle.

Specifically, the Federal Aviation Administration announced that they have finally closed the New Shepard investigation. However, they also made it clear that the closure does not signal an immediate resumption of New Shepard launches. In reality, there is a somewhat extensive list of corrective actions Blue Origin needs to make in order to get approved for another launch.

This comes as the company works toward the first uncrewed flight and then an expected ramp-up in crewed missions. A process that will have to wait until the FAA is satisfied. Here I will go more in-depth into the investigation closure, the future timeline of New Shepard, what Blue Origin has been working on since last year, and more.

Credit:

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:55 - Investigation Closure
4:04 - New Shepard's Plan

[nicholasmaude]

One unintended benefit of this accident is that it successfully demonstrated the escape system during an actual emergency.

[TimothyLipinski]

Great Video ! The FAA is closing down another space company ! The 3U version of this BO New Shepard rocket engine has a larger nozzel for use in space ! The BO Blue Moon will use this engine with the larger nozzel. For LS to LLO (about 2.0 km/sec delta-V and for the Round Trip back to the LS about 4.0 km/sec delta-V) For the NASA L1 Lunar Gateway to the LS (3.0 km/sec delta-V) and the RT from the NASA Gateway to the LS (about 6.0 km/sec delta-V for the RT). When the BO Blue Moon (LEV/LLV) can be fueled at the Lunar Base, the Blue Moon can return to the LEO Commercial Space Station (CSS) (LS to LEO 6.1 km/sec delta-V) For more info on the LEV/LLV (BO Blue Moon) see "Moon Direct" by Robert Zubrin. Timothy Lipinski

[mikecampbell]

I enjoy watching your content and I appreciate your style of presentation. But I find the sound a bit quiet and not easy to hear.

[michaelreid]

Wow! You're saying BO found the fault in the engine was the result of design changes to the engine??? Launched without testing? WTF?

[akirashima]

This should only be launched in Fan Only!

[gregknipe]

good job not showing space ex stock images.

[rpereira_pt_uk]

If they have to change the of engine it's going to be another decade before next launch

[T_Mo]

The quote at 4:23 is from the same Bob Smith who just got fired.

[i-love-space]

The failure did demonstrate how effective the BU New Shepherd Abort System is.
SpaceX fanboys note - Starship has yet to discuss a launch abort system for a man-rated Starship, despite proposing to put crew INSIDE the second stage of the rocket right above the fuel tank dome. I find that kind of stupid. And I expect NASA will NEVER, ever, ever sign off on astronauts launching from earth on Starship as currently designed. And of course the Starship HLS has no abort capability either, unlike the Apollo Lunar Module.

[ThePixelated_kris]

If you ask starship fans this wont fly for years

[chrismahieu]

That thing looks exactly as Bezos himself

[nigephillips]

Not really space flight. Just Up & Down.

[PCMcGee]

So, it wasn't an accident, it was carelessness?

[NOM-X]

How is it possible that B.O. can get a flight license so fast (Human rated), and X has to wait almost 9 months to fly its OTF 2 when they did everything they were asked to do months ago? I understand the differences, but not the politics.
Thanks for another great episode!
- NOM

[Hoopaball]

Sounds like they're getting another new CEO, Dave Limp, who just happens to be another Amazon executive.
Whatever happened to Jarvis? Bezos looks like the kind of guy that would name something Jarvis.
Go Jarvis!

[earth]

Are there any bets BO will get its new launch license before SpaceX ?. It's all about the special cowboy hats. The F.A.A. really likes Jeffo's special cowboy hats. Amazon smi's dozens of smi's are in route to D.C. now.