New Glenn launch: Blue Origin’s reusable rocket set for maiden flight

Blue Origin, the space company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is set to launch its reusable New Glenn rocket for the first time on 10 January. If successful, the rocket could become a rival to SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, which has become the go-to launch vehicle for companies looking to put large payloads into orbit.

What is New Glenn?

New Glenn is a 98 metre-tall rocket, around the height of a 30-storey building, designed to deliver payloads of up to 45 tonnes to low Earth orbit. It is expected to compete with SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy, which can carry about 64 tonnes of cargo.

The rocket has two stages. The first stage is designed to land on a sea platform, similar to Falcon Heavy, and Blue Origin claims it will be reusable for 25 missions. At the top of the rocket is a disposable upper stage where cargo and mission payloads can be stored.

When will the launch take place?

New Glenn has been cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration to launch in a three-hour window starting at 1am local time (6am GMT) on 10 January from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

A launch window had already been approved by the FAA for 6 January, but the 10 January window is the first to be confirmed by Blue Origin, too. “This is our first flight and we’ve prepared rigorously for it,” said Jarrett Jones at Blue Origin in a statement.

Blue Origin first aimed to launch New Glenn in 2020 after announcing the development of the rocket in 2016, but delays and setbacks have pushed back the inaugural launch.

What will the test flight entail?

The main objective for the test flight, called NG-1, is for the rocket to reach orbit, but the second stage will also carry Blue Origin’s Blue Ring Pathfinder, a collection of communications devices, power systems and a flight computer for the Blue Ring spacecraft, which will help guide and manoeuvre future payloads in orbit.

Blue Origin is aiming to mimic the success of SpaceX’s rapid testing and development schedule, which involves launching as frequently as possible, even if some tests end in fiery explosions. “No matter what happens, we’ll learn, refine and apply that knowledge to our next launch,” said Jones.

Eventually, Blue Origin hopes to have New Glenn launch satellites as part of Amazon’s Project Kuiper, a planned satellite internet constellation similar to SpaceX’s Starlink, as well as deliver parts for a space station that Blue Origin is developing.

What other rockets has Blue Origin launched?

Blue Origin has previously focused on space tourism with its New Shepard rocket, which in 2021 launched its founder Jeff Bezos and three other passengers to an altitude of 107 kilometres. It has since launched a further eight crews to a similar altitude, with the most recent launch in November 2024.