New Glenn launch: Blue Origin’s reusable rocket set for maiden flight

Blue Origin, the area firm owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is ready to launch its reusable New Glenn rocket for the primary time on 10 January. If profitable, the rocket might change into a rival to SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, which has change into the go-to launch automobile for corporations trying to put giant payloads into orbit.

What’s New Glenn?

New Glenn is a 98 metre-tall rocket, across the peak of a 30-storey constructing, designed to ship payloads of as much as 45 tonnes to low Earth orbit. It’s anticipated to compete with SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, which might carry about 64 tonnes of cargo.

The rocket has two phases. The primary stage is designed to land on a sea platform, just like Falcon Heavy, and Blue Origin claims will probably be reusable for 25 missions. On the prime of the rocket is a disposable higher stage the place cargo and mission payloads may be saved.

When will the launch happen?

New Glenn has been cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration to launch in a three-hour window beginning at 1am native time (6am GMT) on 10 January from Cape Canaveral Area Power Station in Florida.

A launch window had already been accredited by the FAA for six January, however the 10 January window is the primary to be confirmed by Blue Origin, too. “That is our first flight and we’ve ready rigorously for it,” mentioned Jarrett Jones at Blue Origin in a statement.

Blue Origin first aimed to launch New Glenn in 2020 after saying the event of the rocket in 2016, however delays and setbacks have pushed again the inaugural launch.

What is going to the check flight entail?

The primary goal for the check flight, referred to as NG-1, is for the rocket to achieve orbit, however the second stage will even carry Blue Origin’s Blue Ring Pathfinder, a group of communications gadgets, energy methods and a flight pc for the Blue Ring spacecraft, which is able to assist information and manoeuvre future payloads in orbit.

Blue Origin is aiming to imitate the success of SpaceX’s fast testing and growth schedule, which includes launching as steadily as potential, even when some exams finish in fiery explosions. “It doesn’t matter what occurs, we’ll study, refine and apply that data to our subsequent launch,” mentioned Jones.

Ultimately, Blue Origin hopes to have New Glenn launch satellites as a part of Amazon’s Mission Kuiper, a deliberate satellite tv for pc web constellation just like SpaceX’s Starlink, in addition to ship elements for an area station that Blue Origin is creating.

What different rockets has Blue Origin launched?

Blue Origin has beforehand targeted on area tourism with its New Shepard rocket, which in 2021 launched its founder Jeff Bezos and three different passengers to an altitude of 107 kilometres. It has since launched an extra eight crews to the same altitude, with the latest launch in November 2024.