The FAA has officially concluded its investigation into the crash of Blue Origin's New Shepard suborbital rocket system, which occurred shortly after launch on September 12, 2022. The agency attributed the loss of the uncrewed research mission to a "structural failure of an engine nozzle caused by higher than expected engine operating temperatures." As a result of the investigation, the FAA had grounded New Shepard and imposed 21 corrective actions on Blue Origin. These actions include the redesign of engine and nozzle components and undisclosed organizational changes. Blue Origin must fulfill all safety and regulatory requirements before resuming launch operations.
The FAA clarified that the closure of the mishap investigation does not signal an immediate resumption of New Shepard launches. Instead, Blue Origin must implement all necessary corrective actions affecting public safety and receive a license modification from the FAA that addresses safety and regulatory requirements before the next New Shepard launch can proceed.
During the incident, the vehicle's abort system activated as designed following the engine nozzle failure, enabling the safe separation of the capsule from the propulsion system. The capsule executed a successful parachute landing, while the propulsion module was destroyed upon impact. Importantly, all debris fell within the designated hazard area, ensuring the safety of the public and avoiding injuries or property damage.
The mishap investigation report will not be made publicly available due to its inclusion of proprietary data and U.S. Export Control information, as noted by the FAA.
