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Blue Origin Scrubs Maiden New Glenn Launch After Countdown Technical Issues

Jan 13, 2025, 08:49 AM

Blue Origin's new heavy-lift orbital rocket, New Glenn, was scheduled for its maiden launch from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch, initially set for Sunday, January 12th, at 1:00 AM Eastern Time, was postponed to January 13th due to rough weather conditions in the Atlantic. Despite completing a recent seven-engine hotfire test and preparing for liftoff, the launch faced multiple T-0 adjustments during the three-hour window as technical issues arose. Ultimately, the launch was called off in the final minutes of the countdown due to "a few anomalies" detected during the mission countdown. Blue Origin has not announced a new date for the inaugural launch. New Glenn, a 321-foot-tall, partially reusable rocket, is intended to carry Blue Origin's Blue Ring Pathfinder spacecraft into orbit. The company plans to recover the first-stage booster after launch. The successful deployment of New Glenn would mark a significant milestone for Blue Origin as it seeks to compete in the satellite launch market against companies like SpaceX.