Blue Origin to Relaunch New Shepard Rocket After 15-Month Hiatus

Successful Relaunch Would Mark Significant Step in Billionaire Space Race

Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' space venture, is planning to relaunch its New Shepard rocket on December 18, after a 15-month hiatus due to an in-flight malfunction.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) linked the malfunction to a structural failure of an engine nozzle caused by higher than expected engine operating temperatures.
The FAA recommended 21 corrective measures, including the nozzle and engine components’ redesign, which have been implemented according to Phil Joyce, Senior Vice President at Blue Origin.
The successful relaunch of the rocket would signify a crucial leap for Jeff Bezos in the billionaire space competition against rivals like Virgin Galactic of Richard Branson and SpaceX of Elon Musk.
The rocket will transport 33 research and science payloads, along with 38,000 postcards from Clubs for the Future, a nonprofit set up by Blue Origin.