Official reports from Blue Origin or credible space news agencies

Blue Origin Delays Inaugural New Glenn Launch to January 12, Aims for 320-Foot Rocket Liftoff from Cape Canaveral

Jan 9, 2025, 01:24 PM

Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, has postponed the inaugural launch of its 98-meter tall, reusable New Glenn rocket to no earlier than January 12, 2025, due to high sea states in the Atlantic where the company plans to land its booster. The launch was originally scheduled for January 10. The New Glenn rocket, standing at 320 feet tall and powered by seven BE-4 engines producing 3.9 million pounds of thrust, is designed to compete with SpaceX's offerings, particularly the Falcon 9, in the orbital launch market. The rocket, capable of carrying 45 tonnes to low-Earth orbit, is set to lift off from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida during a three-hour window opening at 1 a.m. EST. The mission, named NG-1, aims to reach Earth's orbit safely and carry the Blue Ring Pathfinder as its payload, testing technology for the future Blue Ring spacecraft designed for satellite deployment. Blue Origin also plans to recover the first stage of the rocket on a barge named Jacklyn in the Atlantic.