Blue Origin CEO Holds to 2026 New Glenn Return Despite January 2027 Memo

Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said New Glenn remains scheduled to return to flight in 2026, while a Nov. 4 staff memo set January 2027 as the rocket’s next launch target.

In an interview released Nov. 6, Limp said, “We just said we're going to get back to flight this year.” He said weather could push the return-to-flight schedule into early January. Neither the interview nor the memo gave a launch day.

The memo sent two days earlier set a January target for 2027, leaving the timing unresolved.

Blue Origin said in a June 30 update that it planned to return New Glenn to flight by the end of 2026. The plan followed a significant anomaly during a May 28 hot-fire test at Launch Complex 36 in Florida. The company said the incident damaged the lightning tower, transporter-erector and hydraulic cylinders.