Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, announced on Monday evening that it is now aiming for a January 16 launch of its New Glenn rocket. The vehicle, a heavy-lift reusable rocket designed to compete with SpaceX’s Falcon rockets, had its initial launch attempt scrapped earlier in the day due to a technical issue. The company is now targeting a launch window opening at 1 a.m. EST on Thursday, January 16.
The launch had originally been scheduled for Monday morning but was postponed after Blue Origin identified a subsystem issue on the vehicle. According to the company, the issue involved ice forming in a purge line connected to the auxiliary power unit that powers some of the rocket’s hydraulic systems. Blue Origin decided to postpone the launch to resolve the problem and ensure the vehicle’s safe operation.
In a statement, Blue Origin explained that the issue had been identified and addressed, with the team confident that it would not affect the launch on Thursday. The company’s primary objective for the first flight of New Glenn is to successfully reach orbit, marking a significant milestone for the space industry.
One of the key goals for this mission is to land the rocket’s booster in the Atlantic Ocean after launch, while the second stage of the vehicle continues on its path to orbit. This ambitious booster recovery is a key feature of Blue Origin’s reusable rocket technology, and while the company has emphasized that the task is challenging, it has expressed confidence in its ability to achieve this goal.
The New Glenn rocket, named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, is Blue Origin’s answer to the growing market for reusable, heavy-lift rockets. With this vehicle, the company aims to compete with SpaceX’s Falcon rockets, which have already revolutionized the space industry with their successful reusability. Blue Origin’s New Glenn has faced delays in its development, but its eventual launch will place the company in direct competition with SpaceX, which has already established dominance in the commercial spaceflight industry.
Despite the delays, the launch of New Glenn is seen as a critical step for Blue Origin. Successfully reaching orbit and recovering the booster would not only be a major achievement for the company but also mark a significant milestone in the future of space exploration and commercialization.
Thursday’s launch attempt is set to be the first of many for New Glenn, and Blue Origin is hopeful that the vehicle will eventually become a reliable and cost-effective option for launching payloads into space. With an eye on both commercial satellite launches and missions to the Moon and beyond, the New Glenn rocket represents a major investment in the future of space transportation.
As of now, the launch is scheduled to take place within a three-hour window, starting at 1 a.m. EST on Thursday, January 16. Blue Origin’s team is working diligently to ensure the rocket’s readiness, and space enthusiasts around the world are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the company’s journey toward commercial spaceflight.
