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2 days ago2 min read

Blue Origin Prepares for Inaugural New Glenn Rocket Launch Next Week

Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' space exploration company, is set to make history with the inaugural launch of its New Glenn rocket next week. The uncrewed mission marks the company’s first attempt to send a spacecraft into high orbit, a pivotal step toward competing with SpaceX’s dominance in the aerospace industry.


The New Glenn rocket standing tall on the launchpad at sunrise, ready for its inaugural flight.
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket orbits Earth, marking its historic debut and setting the stage for future advancements in space exploration and satellite deployment.

Standing nearly 100 meters tall, New Glenn is designed for both performance and reusability. The rocket is expected to lift off from Florida between January 6 and 12, although Blue Origin has not disclosed the exact date and time of the launch.


Mission Highlights

The mission will consist of several key stages:

  1. Launch and Separation: After liftoff, New Glenn’s first stage will detach and autonomously land on a recovery platform located approximately 1,000 kilometers away.

  2. Payload Deployment: The second stage will continue into orbit, deploying payloads safely into high orbit.

  3. Duration: If successful, the entire mission, from launch to landing, will last around six hours.

New Glenn’s design emphasizes reusability, much like SpaceX’s Falcon and Starship rockets. Blue Origin envisions each rocket completing up to 25 missions over its lifetime. For the inaugural flight, the company plans to demonstrate its reusability by recovering the first stage on an ocean platform.



Future Applications

New Glenn is poised to play a crucial role in upcoming space projects, including:

  • Launching Amazon’s Internet Satellites: The rocket could be used to deploy Amazon’s constellation of internet satellites.

  • Building a Commercial Space Station: Blue Origin plans to collaborate with industry partners on constructing a privately-owned space station, leveraging New Glenn’s payload capacity.


Development Timeline

The New Glenn project was first announced in 2016, with the initial launch originally slated for 2020. However, delays have shifted the timeline. To date, Blue Origin has focused on suborbital tourism using its smaller New Shepard rocket, which has flown over 20 missions with one minor incident during a scientific mission.

With New Glenn, Blue Origin aims to expand its capabilities, targeting satellite launches and deep-space missions, thereby positioning itself as a key player in the commercial space industry.


Source: CNN


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