Jeff Bezos’ New Glenn Rocket Successfully Reaches Orbit on First Test Flight
Blue Origin’s highly anticipated New Glenn rocket made a successful debut Thursday, reaching orbit during its first test flight. The massive 320-foot (98-meter) rocket, named after the first American to orbit Earth, John Glenn, launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The rocket sent a prototype satellite into orbit thousands of miles above Earth, marking a significant achievement for the company founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.
A Historic Launch
The New Glenn rocket lifted off from the same launch pad that was used for NASA’s Mariner and Pioneer missions more than 50 years ago, showcasing Blue Origin’s commitment to space exploration. The launch was the culmination of years of development and substantial investment from Bezos, with Blue Origin pouring over $1 billion into rebuilding the historic Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
All seven engines of the New Glenn rocket ignited as it soared into the predawn sky, thrilling spectators along Florida’s beaches. The mission was a success, as the rocket reached orbit just 13 minutes after launch, earning praise even from SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
A Partial Success: Landing Failure
While the mission was a major milestone, the first-stage booster missed its landing on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean. However, Blue Origin emphasized that the primary goal—reaching orbit—was achieved. Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp expressed his excitement on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “We did it! On to spring and trying again on the landing.”
The satellite on board remained inside the rocket’s second stage while it orbited Earth. In line with NASA’s practices to minimize space debris, the second stage was placed into a high orbit, where it will remain safely out of the way.
A Delayed Start and Big Plans Ahead
Originally scheduled for Monday, the test flight was delayed due to ice buildup in critical plumbing, which caused a brief setback. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is designed to carry not only satellites but also spacecraft and eventually astronauts to orbit and the moon.
This test flight represents a significant leap forward for Blue Origin, which has been launching paying passengers to the edge of space since 2021 using smaller rockets named after Alan Shepard, the first American in space. In contrast, the New Glenn rocket—named after John Glenn—is five times taller.
Bezos and Blue Origin’s Vision
Bezos, who founded Blue Origin 25 years ago, has long advocated for the expansion of space exploration. Despite the high cost and competition from other private companies like SpaceX, Bezos remains optimistic about the future of the space industry. He emphasized that there is “room for lots of winners” in the space race, stressing the importance of collaboration to reduce the cost of access to space.
Looking ahead, Blue Origin plans to conduct six to eight New Glenn flights this year, with the next launch expected in the spring.
Competing with SpaceX and Other Major Rockets
New Glenn’s successful flight comes amid the rise of other big rockets in recent years. SpaceX’s Starship, the largest rocket at approximately 400 feet (123 meters), is also poised to make waves in the space industry. Starship is slated to be used by NASA for the Artemis program, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon. Elon Musk’s company also recently demonstrated catching the returning booster with giant mechanical arms, an innovative approach to rocket reusability.
Additionally, United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket and Europe’s Ariane 6 are expected to make their mark in upcoming space missions. Blue Origin, meanwhile, is focused on further development of New Glenn, which was initially slated to send twin spacecraft to Mars for NASA. However, NASA delayed the mission and pulled the spacecraft, Escapade, from last October’s flight. The spacecraft, which will study Mars’ atmosphere and magnetic environment, will now launch no earlier than spring 2025.
Looking to the Moon and Beyond
Blue Origin’s ambitions extend beyond Earth orbit. The company’s Blue Moon lander is expected to play a significant role in NASA’s lunar missions, helping astronauts land on the Moon as part of the Artemis program. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has been a vocal advocate for competition in the space industry, promoting the idea of multiple companies developing lunar landers for the agency’s missions.
As the space race intensifies, Bezos and Blue Origin are making significant strides toward realizing their vision for space exploration. New Glenn’s successful launch is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting new chapter in the history of space travel.
