A n overheated rocket engine was to blame for last year's Blue Origin launch failure, resulting in grounded flights for the last six months. During the September flight, as the New Shepard rocket started veering off course just a minute in, the escape system was triggered and the capsule catapulted off and parachuted to safety.

The FAA has closed the Blue Origin New Shepard 23 mishap investigation. The final report cites the proximate cause of the Sept. 12, 2022, mishap as the structural failure of an engine nozzle caused by higher than expected engine operating temperatures.

Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture says a launch anomaly that forced the suspension of its suborbital spaceflights last September was caused by a structural failure of the rocket engine’s nozzle.

"The direct cause of the NS-23 mishap was a thermo-structural failure of the engine nozzle," Blue Origin said in a statement. "The resulting thrust misalignment properly triggered the Crew Capsule escape system, which functioned as designed throughout the flight. The Crew Capsule and all payloads on board landed safely and will be flown again."