Blue Origin’s first New Glenn rocket reaches orbit, misses booster landing

Key Points

  • Blue Origin launched its New Glenn rocket for the first time on January 16, 2025, marking a significant milestone for Jeff Bezos' space company.
  • The rocket reached orbit but the booster was lost during reentry, failing to land on the intended barge in the Atlantic Ocean.

Summary

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on January 16, 2025, marking the company's first orbital flight. This event is a pivotal moment for Blue Origin, which has been in development for 25 years but had not yet ventured into orbital missions. The rocket, named in honor of astronaut John Glenn, carried a small test payload into space but did not deploy any satellites. Despite the successful ascent to orbit, the mission faced a setback when the rocket's booster, nicknamed "So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance," failed to land on the designated barge, Jacklyn, in the Atlantic Ocean. The launch signifies Blue Origin's entry into the competitive space launch market, challenging the dominance of SpaceX. Blue Origin has plans to scale up its launch frequency, aiming for up to 10 New Glenn missions in the year following the debut. The rocket, powered by seven BE-4 engines, is designed for partial reusability and can lift significant payloads to low Earth orbit, positioning Blue Origin to compete in both commercial and military launch sectors.

cnbc
January 16, 2025
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