Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ company, successfully conducted a hot fire test of its new rocket, New Glenn, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The seven engines of the booster stage ignited and fired for 24 seconds, marking the final big technical hurdle before the rocket’s inaugural flight.
The test was a significant step forward, with Blue Origin officials stating that it proves their rigorous approach to testing is working as intended. The next time the engines fire, New Glenn should be heading to space on its maiden voyage.
A launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) has been issued, allowing Blue Origin to launch New Glenn from Cape Canaveral and land its reusable booster stage on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean. The license is valid for five years.
The rocket, named after NASA astronaut John Glenn, will compete with SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets in launching commercial satellites, space probes, and military spacecraft. With the F.A.A. clearance, Blue Origin can now move forward with preparations for its first launch, which is currently expected to take place in January or later this year.
Blue Origin officials are excited about the progress made so far, with CEO Dave Limp stating that “all we have left to do is mate our encapsulated payload…and then LAUNCH!” The company’s New Glenn rocket has been on the launchpad for weeks, and technicians will now install a prototype spacecraft called Blue Ring before the actual launch.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/27/science/new-glenn-blue-origin.html