Blue Origin’s Lengthy Launchpad Repair Extends SpaceX Dominance

Blue Origin faces a formidable challenge that goes beyond simply replacing the New Glenn rocket it lost in last week’s explosion: rebuilding a destroyed launchpad that took years to construct.

At a minimum, the Jeff Bezos-backed company will need months to recover from the costly setback, though the billionaire said shortly after the blast that it’s worth the effort to rebuild. That process stands to delay Blue Origin’s ambitions to compete with rival SpaceX on everything from orbital launches to moon travel for NASA.

Damage aftermath from Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explosion in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Photographer: Scott Schilke/SipaUSA/AP Photo

Photos of the blast’s aftermath reveal that the accident caused significant damage to the ...