Blue Origin Prepares for Historic New Glenn Rocket Launch
Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos in 2000, is on the brink of a major milestone as it prepares for the first launch of its New Glenn rocket. Scheduled for early Monday from Florida, this event marks a significant step in the company’s quest to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the satellite launch industry.
A Giant Rocket Ready for Liftoff
Standing an impressive 30 stories tall, the partially reusable New Glenn rocket awaits its inaugural liftoff at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Fully loaded with methane and liquid oxygen propellants, the rocket is set to launch at 1:30 am ET (0630 GMT).
The mission’s highlight is a daring attempt to land New Glenn’s first-stage booster on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean, just 10 minutes after liftoff. Meanwhile, its second stage will continue toward orbit. Bezos acknowledged the risks of the mission, saying, “The thing we’re most nervous about is the booster landing. On a first flight, anything could happen.”
Introducing the Blue Ring Spacecraft
Secured within New Glenn’s payload bay is the prototype of Blue Origin’s Blue Ring spacecraft. This versatile vehicle is designed for satellite servicing and national security missions, targeting both commercial clients and the Pentagon. Achieving orbit on the rocket’s first mission would be an extraordinary accomplishment.
“If we could do that, that would be a great success,” Bezos noted. “Landing the booster would be icing on the cake.”
A Long Road to Launch
New Glenn’s development has faced numerous delays over the past decade. The rocket, more than twice as powerful as SpaceX’s Falcon 9, represents Blue Origin’s vision of innovation in the competitive space sector.
In late 2023, Bezos accelerated efforts at Blue Origin, placing priority on New Glenn and its BE-4 engines. With the appointment of Dave Limp, an Amazon veteran, as CEO, the company adopted a renewed sense of urgency to rival SpaceX’s dominance.
Despite these challenges, Blue Origin has already secured launch contracts worth billions of dollars, reinforcing its ambition to reshape the satellite launch market.
With inputs from Reuters