Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin successfully launched New Glenn, while Elon Musk’s SpaceX gears up for its own Starship launch later today.
Before the launch, Bezos admitted he was feeling a bit nervous. He told Ars Technica that he was worried about everything as the team prepped the massive rocket. But in the end, all that worry was for nothing. After some delays, New Glenn blasted off early Thursday, hitting a milestone that many companies struggle to achieve on their first try.
This launch is a big step for Blue Origin, which Bezos started back in 2000. It shows they’re serious about using reusable rockets to send satellites and NASA astronauts into space. And it proves they can compete with others in this new space race.
Elon Musk was watching closely and even congratulated Bezos on the successful launch. Now, all eyes are on SpaceX as they prepare to launch Starship just hours after Blue Origin’s big moment. SpaceX has been dominating the commercial space scene, launching more rockets than anyone else last year.
Their next launch is set for 4 p.m. CST today, but it might get delayed. They’re hoping to catch the booster again and show off Starship’s ability to deploy payloads into orbit. Both companies have big plans for 2025, so this won’t be the last time they go head-to-head.
Both SpaceX and Blue Origin have contracts with NASA’s Artemis program, aiming to send astronauts to the moon in the coming years. Blue Origin is also set to launch satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, which is their answer to SpaceX’s Starlink internet service.
While Blue Origin is finally in the game, SpaceX might have an edge with Musk’s political connections. He’s been cozying up to the new administration, which could help him out. Bezos, on the other hand, is trying to mend his relationship with Trump. He even had dinner with Trump and Musk recently and said he’s feeling optimistic about the future.
