Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket completed its first test flight, successfully reaching orbit with a prototype satellite from Florida.
The rocket took off from Florida, using the same launch pad that NASA used for its Mariner and Pioneer missions ages ago. Talk about history!
This massive 320-foot rocket, funded by Jeff Bezos, was designed to carry satellites and help them reach their orbits. It’s a big deal for the company.
When the rocket blasted off, all seven engines roared to life, lighting up the sky and getting cheers from folks on the beach. It was a sight to see!
After about 13 minutes, the satellite successfully reached orbit, and even Elon Musk gave a shout-out to Bezos. That’s some friendly competition!
Bezos was at Mission Control, looking both anxious and thrilled. He didn’t share how much he invested in the project, but he’s clearly all in.
He mentioned that he doesn’t see Blue Origin as a rival to SpaceX, which has been the big player in rocket launches for a while now.
For this test, the satellite stayed in the second stage while it circled Earth. The mission was set to last about six hours, keeping everything safe and sound up there.
Although the first-stage booster missed its landing on a barge, the main goal was to get the satellite into orbit, which they did. Bezos called it “a little crazy” to try landing the booster on the first go.
Blue Origin has invested over $1 billion into the New Glenn launch site, making it a top-notch facility at Cape Canaveral.
They’re aiming for six to eight flights this year, with the next one expected in the spring. It’s an exciting time for space exploration!
Bezos believes there’s room for everyone in the space industry, and this is just the start of a new era where they can work together to make space travel more affordable.
New Glenn is part of a wave of new rockets, joining others like SpaceX’s Starship and NASA’s Space Launch System, which are all gearing up for future missions.
NASA plans to use Starship for moon landings, while Blue Origin’s lander, Blue Moon, will also play a role in lunar missions down the line.
Originally, New Glenn was supposed to send twin spacecraft to Mars, but that got pushed back. They’ll still fly, just not until later this spring.
