Blue Origin is just about ready to give SpaceX a run for its money after the Jeff Bezos-founded aerospace company successfully brought back one of its reusable rockets to Earth during a test launch on Friday.
The recent test featured a New Shepard spacecraft, the same model Blue Origin used in another simulation in November that was able to land vertically on its target site.
According to the company, this week's launch saw the New Shepard reach a maximum altitude of 333,582 feet (101.7 kilometers) just before it was safely guided back to Earth by controllers for recovery and reuse.
Data gathered from the November launch matched the preflight predictions set by the Blue Origin team. This helped make preparations for the re-flight more straightforward.
Several modifications to the New Shepard's configuration were made, such as replacing the crew capsule parachutes and the pyro igniters and conducting avionics and functional checkouts.
The team also improved the software used for the New Shepard. Instead of having to land in the middle of its pad, the spacecraft first identifies the center just before setting down at a spot that is most convenient. In this sense, the New Shepard prioritizes its altitude over its exact lateral positioning during its landing.
Blue Origin compared the maneuver to lining up an aircraft according to the centerline of the runway.
"If the plane is a few feet off center as you get close, you don't swerve at the last minute to ensure hitting the exact mid-point," Blue Origin founder Bezos wrote on the company's website. "You just land a few feet left or right of the centerline."
The New Shepard simulations demonstrate that this new landing strategy allows the team to have greater margins, which help improve the ability of the spacecraft to withstand disturbances that are brought on by low-altitude winds.
Blue Origin's test launch on Friday marks the first time a vertical rocket designed for commercial use was able to reach space for a second time. This seemingly places the company ahead of its chief rival SpaceX, who successfully landed a Falcon 9 rocket in December.
SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk, however, said that this particular Falcon 9 rocket will not be used in future re-flights as the company has deemed too valuable for reuse.
Last week, SpaceX tried to land another rocket post-launch, but it tipped over after hitting its pad and exploded.
