Blue Origin, the private space company founded by Jeff Bezos, has delayed the first launch of its New Glenn rocket due to unfavorable weather conditions. Originally scheduled for January 10, 2025, the launch of the heavy-lift rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida has been pushed back to January 12, 2025, at 1:00 a.m. EST (0600 GMT). The delay is due to rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean, where the rocket’s first stage booster is expected to land after launch.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Blue Origin explained the situation: “We’re shifting our NG-1 launch date to no earlier than January 12 due to a high sea state in the Atlantic where we hope to land our booster. Our three-hour window remains the same, opening Sunday at 1 a.m. EST (0600 UTC).”
What is New Glenn?
The New Glenn rocket is Blue Origin’s first orbital-class launch vehicle, standing at a towering 320 feet (98 meters) tall. This massive rocket is designed to carry payloads into low Earth orbit (LEO), making it a competitor to other rockets in the heavy-lift category, such as SpaceX’s Falcon 9.
One of the key features of New Glenn is its reusable first stage, which is designed to return to Earth after launch and land on a specially designated barge named Jacklyn, named after Jeff Bezos’ mother. This reusability is intended to reduce mission costs and improve the economics of spaceflight — a strategy also adopted by SpaceX with its Falcon 9 rockets.
Why the Delay?
The main reason for the delay is the high sea state in the Atlantic Ocean, where Blue Origin intends to land the first stage booster. The company is aiming to land the booster on the first try, which is a bold move, as the odds of success are considered low. Nevertheless, the company remains ambitious in its goal to demonstrate its ability to land and reuse the booster, much like SpaceX’s success with its Falcon rockets.
Blue Origin officials have stated, “We know landing the booster on our first try offshore in the Atlantic is ambitious — but we’re going for it.”
New Glenn’s Future and Potential
Blue Origin has high hopes for New Glenn, which is positioned as a workhorse rocket that will support multiple missions in the future. The company has secured contracts for missions such as a NASA Mars mission and launching Amazon’s Kuiper internet satellites. The reusable first stage is a crucial aspect of these missions, as it aims to lower the costs of sending payloads to space.
If the company successfully lands the first stage of New Glenn, it would mark a significant step forward for Blue Origin, reinforcing the company’s commitment to reusable rocket technology. Blue Origin’s New Glenn is designed for at least 25 flights, allowing for multiple launches from each rocket, much like SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets, which have already demonstrated significant reusability.
Potential Launch Window
If the launch on January 12 is delayed again, Blue Origin could try to launch the New Glenn rocket between January 12 and January 16, according to a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) update from the FAA. The company remains hopeful that weather conditions will improve, allowing for the successful launch and booster recovery.
Competition with SpaceX
Blue Origin’s New Glenn is competing with SpaceX, a major player in the space industry, founded by Elon Musk. SpaceX has a well-established track record with its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, which routinely land their first stages after launch, contributing to a decrease in overall mission costs.
As the space race heats up, both companies aim to dominate the market for orbital launches and reusable rocket technology, with New Glenn positioning itself as a major contender in the coming years.
Conclusion
The delay of the first New Glenn launch represents a minor setback for Blue Origin, but the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability in space technology remains clear. The successful launch and recovery of New Glenn would further demonstrate the growing capabilities of private space companies and the continued advancement of reusable rocket technology.
Blue Origin’s journey with New Glenn is just beginning, and the upcoming launch will be closely watched as a significant step in the development of reusable space technology and commercial spaceflight.
