Blue Origin Outlines New Glenn Return-to-Flight Logistics; Blue Moon Mk1 Slips to Early 2027

Blue Origin detailed its New Glenn return-to-flight plan on June 30, 2026, following the May 28 hotfire explosion at LC-36. The company is shifting from a pure horizontal integration model to a 'horizontal/vertical hybrid CONOPS': the first and second stages will be integrated horizontally in the facility adjacent to LC-36A, then a crane will hoist the assembled rocket into vertical orientation at the pad — bypassing reconstruction of the destroyed transporter-erector. CEO Dave Limp said early root-cause analysis "points to the aft section of the first stage," with specifics about the BE-4 engines still under review. The Blue Moon Mark 1 uncrewed lunar lander (Endurance) has slipped from late summer 2026 to early 2027 as a result. NASA is exploring contingency options, including potentially flying the intact Mark 1 lander on an alternative rocket if New Glenn timelines slip further, given the lander's relevance to the Blue Moon Mk2 HLS vehicle NASA is counting on for Artemis III/IV dock demonstrations.