German rocket company built to 80% in-house, Munich-based since 2018
Blue Origin has opened talks to raise $10 billion at a $130 billion pre-money valuation, marking the firm's first major external fundraising since its 2000 founding. Coatue Management is expected to lead with a multibillion-dollar commitment; Jeff Bezos is set to add several billion. The move follows May's New Glenn explosion and ongoing recovery work.
Blue Origin has lost a New Glenn rocket in a catastrophic engine test at Cape Canaveral, producing a fireball that damaged the LC‑36A pad and generated seismic waves. Jeff Bezos and CEO Dave Limp have said key propellant tanks and some hardware survived and the company has begun a pad rebuild, while NASA is offering technical support for Artemis-related schedules.