Bezos’ big rocket is trying to launch for the first time

Updated: January 10, 3:38 PM ET: All signs point to a launch during the early hours of Sunday morning, with a three-hour launch window opening at 1:00 AM ET on Sunday, January 12 at 1:00 AM ET.

Updated: January 9, 1:20 PM ET: New Glenn’s inaugural launch has been postponed to no later than Sunday, January 12, with the launch window opening at 1 a.m. ET, due to unfavorable weather expected at the ocean-based lander.

Original article follows below.

Blue Origin is highly anticipated The new Glenn Rocket is preparing for its big debut. If all goes well with the rocket’s inaugural flight, it could pose some competition for industry favorite SpaceX.

New Glenn is scheduled to launch during a three-hour launch period beginning Friday, January 10 at 1 a.m. ET. The rocket will be launched from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The live stream of the launch will begin approximately one hour before liftoff on Blue Origin Website. Third-party provider NASASpaceflight is also live streaming the launch, which you can watch below.

Blue Origin, founded by the world’s second-richest man, Jeff Bezos, first announced its $2.5 billion New Glenn rocket nearly 10 years ago. The 320-foot (98-meter) rocket is designed to lift 45 tons into low Earth orbit and 13 tons into geostationary orbit.

New Glenn is partially reusable, with its first stage designed to last 25 missions and powered by seven BE-4 methane-burning engines. Compared to SpaceX Falcon Heavy It is a partially reusable heavy rocket capable of carrying 63 metric tons to low Earth orbit and 26 metric tons to geostationary orbit. Both Falcon Heavy’s side boosters and New Glenn’s first stage are designed to return to Earth for controlled landings on floating platforms at sea.

For its first mission, the heavy launch vehicle will carry Blue Origin rockets Blue Ring Pathfinderan orbital platform referred to as a “space truck”. The Blue Ring’s maiden flight will test its ground systems and operational capabilities as part of the DarkSky-1 (DS-1) mission, sponsored by the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit, according to the British Daily Mail. Blue original.

“We are excited to showcase Blue Ring’s advanced operations in space on the inaugural New Glenn mission,” Paul Ebertz, senior vice president of space systems at Blue Origin, said in a statement. “Blue Ring plays a critical role in building the path to space, and this mission is an important first step for Blue Ring and enabling dynamic, responsive operations that will greatly benefit our nation.”

Blue Ring Pathfinder integrated. Jacqueline is doing well. Launch authorization received. Here we are! https://t.co/CCOY8GEks8 pic.twitter.com/hjAL8Dmu3q

-Dave Limp (@davil) January 7, 2025

The main goal of New Glenn’s first flight is to reach orbit on its first attempt. Blue Origin will also attempt to land its booster offshore in the Atlantic Ocean, but the name of the booster, “So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance,” suggests the company is optimistic but perhaps not quite expecting its first attempt to be successful. . This is also the first National Security Space Launch Certification flight for New Glenn, which could pave the way for the rocket to carry national security payloads on future missions.

Bezos’ big rocket debut could fuel his rivalry with his billionaire rocket nemesis, SpaceX founder Elon Musk. Blue Origin’s current rocket, New Shepard, is primarily used to launch space tourists on suborbital flights to the edge of space. New Glenn, on the other hand, will officially put Blue Origin on the map when it comes to the orbital payload business.

SpaceX has had quite a significant start, making it an industry favorite. It’s not yet clear whether or not Blue Origin will be able to catch up, but there’s a lot to count on for New Glenn’s first time taking to the skies.