Blue Origin's Heavy-Lift New Glenn Rocket Reaches Orbit on First Attempt, Challenging SpaceX

Jan 20, 2025, 03:11 AM

Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, successfully launched its heavy-lift New Glenn rocket into orbit for the first time on its first attempt on Thursday at 1:03 a.m. CST from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The New Glenn rocket, which is taller than the Statue of Liberty, marks a key milestone after 24 years of development and years of delays. With plans for reusability and six launches this year, Blue Origin aims to become a credible competitor to Elon Musk's SpaceX in the competitive private space industry. The successful flight brings the reusable heavy-lift New Glenn closer to launching U.S. military and spy satellites, challenging SpaceX's dominance in this sector.