--- title: "The FAA Is Not Happy About Blue Origin’s “Incident” This Morning" description: "Jeff Bezos' space comapny Blue Origin experienced a big setback today. And the FAA is officially investigating the \"mishap.\"" date: "2022-09-12" modified: "2022-09-12" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/faa-blue-origin-incident" categories: - "Blue Origin" - "Space" tags: - "blue origin" - "new shepard" - "the digest" --- # The FAA Is Not Happy About Blue Origin’s “Incident” This Morning ![Jeff Bezos' space comapny Blue Origin experienced a big setback today. And the FAA is officially investigating the "mishap."]() *\Image: Blue Origin\* ## Mishap Investigation Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin experienced a big setback today. The company was [forced to abort an uncrewed mission]() midflight earlier today, with its New Shepard capsule erupting in a huge explosion as it was jettisoned away from the booster below, which did not appear to survive the ordeal. The blunder has now drawn the attention from the Federal Aviation Administration, which [issued an official statement]() announcing an investigation of the mishap. The investigation isn't unusual, but given that the company has used the same platform to [launch a number of high-profile celebrities](), the scrutiny is likely to draw unwanted attention. ## Grounded While the New Shepard capsule managed to land "safely and the booster impacted within the designated hazard area," the regulator will now try to determine whether the company will have to make any changes to its "system, process, or procedure" or whether it ever "affected public safety." That means the spacecraft is grounded for the foreseeable future, something [we've already witnessed]() with Blue Origin competitor Virgin Galactic. "Poor Blue Origin, they really can't catch a break," [*Teslarati*'s Eric Ralph tweeted](). ## Triggered It's still unclear what happened during today's accident. For one, we still don't know what triggered the in-flight abort system in the first place. So far, the company [only revealed]() that "the capsule escape system successfully separated the capsule from the booster," and that "the booster impacted the ground" (we'd [love to see footage](), if you have any.) A lot more could've gone wrong. Blue Origin has successfully pulled off 20 consecutive launches since an anomaly in 2015, [according to *Ars Technica*](). Despite the capsule landing back on the ground thanks to its parachutes, space tourists on board the spacecraft would've experienced some terrifying gravitational forces as they were launched away from the booster. Another interesting data point, if it ever becomes public: the condition of the payload inside the capsule. **READ MORE:** [After Blue Origin’s rocket explodes, its spacecraft makes a dramatic escape]() \[*Ars Technica*\] **More on the mishap:** *[Blue Origin Rocket Aborts After Launch, Jettisoning Capsule]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()