Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket successfully reached orbit earlier today, marking a significant milestone for the aerospace company. After securing the license for the rocket at the beginning of 2025, Blue Origin launched its first test flight from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The BE-4 engines of the rocket ignited at precisely 2:03 am (EST), propelling the rocket into the sky.
The New Glenn rocket is a reusable heavy-lift vehicle, designed to rival SpaceX's Starship. During this inaugural flight, the first stage booster climbed to an altitude of 70 kilometers in just over three minutes. Despite reaching this impressive height, the booster was lost as it descended from the skies. Blue Origin had planned to recover the booster with its drone ship, Jacklyn, but will need to attempt this again in future missions.
Following the ascent of the first stage, the second stage of the rocket continued its journey towards orbit. Equipped with two BE-3U engines, it burned for up to 10 minutes, completing its mission to deliver a payload. The payload, known as the Blue Ring Pathfinder, was successfully deployed into space, showcasing the rocket's capabilities.
The NG-1 mission was ambitious, featuring a payload delivery on its debut test flight. This success signifies a major achievement for Blue Origin as it pursues its long-term goals of sending missions to the Moon and Mars. With today's launch, the company has demonstrated its potential to compete in the commercial space industry.
The New Glenn rocket's successful entry into orbit positions Blue Origin as a formidable player in space exploration. The company intends to conduct another test flight of the New Glenn rocket later this spring, continuing its efforts to perfect its technology and achieve reusable rocket landings.
