CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla. – An issue with the main oxygen valve in an engine of a New Glenn rocket caused the explosion on a launch pad earlier this year, Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp announced on X.com Wednesday.
The rocket was on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Brevard County back in May, and was undergoing a static-fire engine test when the explosion happened.
[WATCH: New Glenn rocket explosion at Cape Canaveral: When went wrong, what’s next for Blue Origin]
No one was hurt, but people along the Space Coast said the blast shook their homes.
In the post on X, Limp said hardware recovery and inspections confirmed the hotfire anomaly in the main oxygen valve of one of the BE-4 engines.
Wanted to give an update on the hotfire anomaly investigation. Progress continues. The anomaly originated at the main oxygen valve on one of the BE-4 engines, which was later confirmed by hardware recovery and inspections. Extensive component-level and engine hotfire tests have…
— Dave Limp (@davill) August 5, 2026
“The path forward is clear. We’re making small modifications to the valve that can be quickly retrofitted to existing engines. We’re manufacturing the updated hardware, which will be ready by the end of this month,” Limp posted.
In the meantime, Blue Origin is working to repair Launch Complex 36 so it can begin flying again when cleared to do so.
[WATCH: Burned osprey found after Blue Origin explosion raises concerns about launches, wildlife]