Blue Origin successfully launched its massive New Glenn rocket for its first test flight, sending an experimental satellite into orbit. Named after John Glenn, the rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, marking a major milestone for the company.
Blue Origin successfully launched its towering New Glenn rocket on its inaugural test flight Thursday, propelling an experimental satellite into orbit thousands of miles above Earth. The 320-foot (98-meter) rocket, named after the first American to orbit Earth, John Glenn , lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, from the same historic launch pad used for NASA 's Mariner and Pioneer missions half a century ago.
The rocket carried an experimental platform designed to host satellites or release them into their designated orbits. All seven main engines ignited flawlessly at liftoff, piercing the pre-dawn sky and drawing cheers from spectators gathered along nearby beaches. Inside Blue Origin's Mission Control, CEO Dave Limp stood with crossed arms, his gaze fixed on a bank of windows as he watched New Glenn ascend. Seventeen minutes later, the company erupted in jubilation as confirmation arrived that the craft had successfully reached orbit. The achievement was met with swift praise from industry rival SpaceX's CEO, Elon Musk. For this initial test, the satellite was intended to remain within the second stage while orbiting the Earth. The mission spanned six hours, with the second stage subsequently placed in a secure, high orbit to minimize space debris, adhering to NASA's best practices. While the first-stage booster missed its planned landing on a barge in the Atlantic moments after liftoff, it was not a primary objective for this test flight. The focus remained on the successful orbital deployment of the test satellite. Blue Origin had previously planned a launch on Monday, but encountered a delay due to ice accumulation in critical systems. The company anticipates six to eight New Glenn flights this year, provided all goes smoothly, with the next launch slated for spring. Bezos, who founded Blue Origin 25 years ago, declined to disclose his personal investment in the New Glenn program, stating that he views the space industry as collaborative rather than competitive. New Glenn represents the latest addition to a growing roster of powerful new rockets, including United Launch Alliance's Vulcan, Europe's upgraded Ariane 6, and NASA's Space Launch System (SLS). SpaceX's Starship, standing at approximately 400 feet (123 meters), claims the title of the largest rocket currently in operation. Musk expressed optimism for the seventh full-scale test flight of Starship later Thursday from Texas, aiming to replicate his successful booster recovery in October. Starship is slated to be NASA's primary vehicle for lunar landings under the Artemis program, which will see astronauts return to the moon in the coming decade. Blue Origin's own lunar lander, dubbed Blue Moon, is scheduled to make its debut on the third crewed moon landing
Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Launch Space Exploration John Glenn Satellite Space Debris NASA Spacex Starship Artemis Program Moon Landing
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