Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Successfully Launches Prototype Satellite
On Thursday, Blue Origin launched its new rocket, New Glenn, on its maiden test flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch marked a significant milestone as it sent a prototype satellite into orbit thousands of miles above Earth.
The New Glenn rocket, named in honor of John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, took off from a historic launch pad previously used for NASA’s Mariner and Pioneer missions. The rocket’s development has been heavily funded by Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.
The 320-foot (98-meter) rocket successfully reached orbit 13 minutes after liftoff, to the delight of spectators and Blue Origin employees. Jeff Bezos monitored the event from Mission Control, while SpaceX’s Elon Musk commended the achievement.
Although the first-stage booster missed its landing on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean, Blue Origin emphasized that the primary goal of reaching orbit was accomplished. “We did it!” Blue Origin’s CEO Dave Limp announced via X, adding that they would attempt the booster landing again in the spring.
During this test flight, the satellite remained within the second stage, which is intended to stay in a high orbit to mitigate space debris, following NASA’s guidelines. New Glenn’s initial launch was delayed from Monday due to ice buildup in critical systems.
Designed to transport both spacecraft and astronauts to orbit and the moon, New Glenn represents Blue Origin’s advancements in space exploration. Since 2021, Blue Origin has been offering suborbital flights for paying passengers using smaller rockets named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space.
The company has invested over $1 billion into the New Glenn launch site, revitalizing Complex 36 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The site is strategically located near Blue Origin’s control centers and rocket factory.
Blue Origin aims for six to eight New Glenn launches this year, with the next mission slated for the spring. Jeff Bezos has not disclosed his personal investment in the project but emphasized collaboration within the industry to reduce space access costs, stating, “There’s room for lots of winners.”
New Glenn joins a lineup of recent large rocket launches, including United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan, Europe’s Ariane 6, and NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS). The largest rocket, SpaceX’s Starship, stands at approximately 400 feet (123 meters) and is expected to have its seventh test flight soon. Starship is integral to NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the moon.
In a related development, NASA’s Administrator Bill Nelson highlighted the cooperation between NASA and commercial partners, underscoring the shared objective of advancing space exploration. Nelson is set to be succeeded by Jared Isaacman, pending Senate approval.
New Glenn’s first mission was initially planned to carry twin spacecraft to Mars for NASA. However, due to delays, these spacecraft are now scheduled to launch in the spring. They will study Mars’ atmosphere and magnetic field as they orbit the planet.
