Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Successfully Launches into Earth’s Orbit
Mission Accomplished: Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Reaches Orbit on its First Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL: Blue Origin’s giant New Glenn rocket blasted off from Florida early on Thursday morning on its first mission to space, marking an inaugural step into Earth’s orbit for Jeff Bezos’s space company as it aims to rival SpaceX in the satellite launch business.
Second Liftoff and a Successful Mission
The 30-story-tall New Glenn rocket, with a reusable first stage, launched around 2am local time from Blue Origin’s launchpad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, its seven engines thundering for miles under cloudy skies on its second liftoff attempt this week. Hundreds of employees at the company’s Kent, Washington, headquarters and its Cape Canaveral, Florida rocket factory roared in applause as Blue Origin vice president Ariane Cornell announced the rocket’s second stage made it to orbit, achieving a long-awaited milestone.
"We hit our key, critical, number-one objective, we got to orbit safely. And y’all we did it on our first go," Cornell said on a company live stream.
Reusability and Challenges
The rocket’s reusable first stage booster was due for a landing on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean after separating from its second stage, but failed to make that landing, Cornell confirmed. Telemetry from the booster blacked out minutes after its lift-off.
"We did in fact lose the booster," Cornell said.
A New Era in Space Exploration
The culmination of a decade-long, multibillion-dollar development journey, the mission marks Blue Origin’s first trek to Earth’s orbit, where it plans to send dozens of customer satellites lined up on New Glenn’s mission backlog. Secured inside New Glenn’s payload bay for the mission is the first prototype of Blue Origin’s Blue Ring vehicle, a manoeuvrable spacecraft the company plans to sell to the Pentagon and commercial customers for national security and satellite servicing missions.
Conclusion
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket has successfully launched into Earth’s orbit, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey to become a major player in the satellite launch business. With its reusable technology and ambitious plans, Blue Origin is poised to challenge SpaceX’s dominance in the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is New Glenn?
New Glenn is Blue Origin’s new rocket, a 30-story-tall, reusable launch vehicle designed to carry payloads to Earth’s orbit and beyond. - What is the Blue Ring vehicle?
The Blue Ring vehicle is a manoeuvrable spacecraft developed by Blue Origin, which will be used for national security and satellite servicing missions. - What is the purpose of New Glenn’s first mission?
The purpose of New Glenn’s first mission is to demonstrate the rocket’s capabilities and pave the way for future missions, including satellite launches and space exploration.