United Launch Alliance

Last week's New Glenn rocket explosion at Cape Canaveral provided safety officials with critical real-world data on methane-fueled rocket accidents. Multiple companies, including SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Relativity Space, are developing launch sites using methane or liquefied natural gas, replacing traditional propellants.

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during a test firing at Cape Canaveral, damaging the launch pad and delaying moonshot plans under NASA's Artemis program. The incident, which caused a visible fireball and structural damage, resulted in no injuries but prompted warnings about potential wreckage washing ashore.

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during a ground test at Cape Canaveral, damaging the launchpad and delaying NASA's Artemis lunar missions. The incident impacts plans for Blue Origin's lunar landers, including the VIPER rover delivery in 2027 and Artemis III. Investigations into the explosion's cause may also affect other BE-4 engine-powered launches.

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded during an engine-firing test at Cape Canaveral, causing no injuries but disrupting plans for an upcoming satellite launch. Jeff Bezos stated the company will investigate the cause and rebuild as needed, while NASA emphasized the challenges of developing heavy-lift launch capabilities.

The U.S. Air Force is proposing to convert decommissioned offshore oil rigs into rocket booster recovery platforms through Project Able Baker, which would reduce costs and provide environmental remediation. The initiative would create a network of sea-based recovery stations as an alternative to expensive drone ships currently used by companies like SpaceX, while supporting the federal Rigs to Reefs program.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launched 29 satellites for Amazon's Leo broadband constellation from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on April 4, 2026. The mission aims to expand Amazon's satellite-based internet infrastructure.

The US Space Force is considering shifting a significant number of launches from United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket to SpaceX due to recurring technical issues with Vulcan's solid rocket boosters. The Vulcan, which has only completed four flights since 2024, faced two grounding incidents involving exhaust nozzle failures, impacting its reliability amid a 70-launch backlog.

The United Launch Alliance successfully launched an Atlas V rocket carrying 29 Amazon Leo satellites on April 4, 2026, from Florida. This marks the heaviest payload ever sent by the Atlas V rocket, highlighting advancements in satellite deployment technology.

NASA's Artemis II mission is set for launch, marking the first crewed lunar orbit mission since the Apollo era. The mission will include astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen, with milestones such as firsts for diversity in space travel.