Hats off to Jeff Bezos who took a massive win earlier today, particularly as his space company, Blue Origin, saw a resounding success for its latest gargantuan rocket, New Glenn, which flew into orbit earlier today. Last year was the supposed first flight of New Glenn to orbit but their plans were scrubbed as they awaited their much-needed license from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that did not arrive.
That being said, the company was able to secure it right at the start of 2025, and Blue Origin did not waste any time inassembling their first reusable heavy-lift rocket to the launch pad and head for the cosmos.
Blue Origin's New Glenn Successfully Launched to Orbit
There is a cause for celebration over at Blue Origin, particularly as the company made significant progress with its New Glenn rocket which it launched earlier today, finding immense success in reaching the Earth's orbit. Early Thursday began with a resounding launch for Blue Origin as New Glenn's BE-4 engines ignited at 2:03 am (EST) on Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Blue Origin's NG-1 mission was also an ambitious one, particularly as the company included a payload to deliver to orbit even on its debut test flight, and it successfully brought the Blue Ring Pathfinder to space.
It took the New Glenn rocket a total of over three minutes for its first stage to thrust it towards an altitude of 70 kilometers before separating from the second stage which climbed towards orbit using two BE-3U engines that burned for as much as 10 minutes.
Slow Burn Climb for the Gigantic New Glenn Rocket
Blue Origin's NG-1 mission saw a slow burn climb when it first fired its engines from the launch pad, with the machines pushing hard from the ground to propel the enormous rocket for its lift. However, while it is successful in reaching orbit, the company shared that it lost the first stage booster as it descended from the skies, with the company looking to attempt a landing on its drone ship, Jacklyn.
That being said, New Glenn will attempt another test flight later this spring where the company is looking to nail the first landing of its returning booster.
Blue Origin's New Glenn Takes Its Place in History
Jeff Bezos may be the tech mogul who popularized e-commerce platforms with Amazon from decades ago, but the billionaire still has other aspirations and goals to share with the world and that is space. Blue Origin was able to partially fulfill its founder's dream with New Shepard's flights, but this is not yet enough for the space company, and admittedly, Bezos regarded that their pacing is slow.
However, while it is seemingly lagging in the massive space race amongst private and public entities, the company is continuing its development that will cement more of its legacy. The next hope for Blue Origin is with the New Glenn rocket, with this being their first take on reusable rockets like the Starship from its rival, SpaceX, setting it up for massive missions to undertake in the future.
It is also important to note that Blue Origin's goals do not end in the Earth's orbit, as the company is also among those who have massive plans to go to the Moon, as well as the neighboring planet of Mars. Blue Origin's latest success with the New Glenn is set to change a lot for them, with this being the company's first test flight for the rocket which already reached orbit, and their next problem is nailing the landing.
