Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ latest space vehicle, the New Glenn rocket, has completed its final dress rehearsal ahead of its maiden flight. The 700-foot-tall rocket, named after NASA astronaut John Glenn, stood tall at Cape Canaveral in Florida and fired all seven of its engines for 24 seconds during a “hot fire” test.
The successful test marked a major milestone for Blue Origin, Bezos’ space company, which has been working on the commercial rocket for years. The rocket’s booster runs on methane and liquid oxygen, while the second stage propels a spacecraft further into space using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
According to David Limp, Blue Origin’s CEO, New Glenn produces enough horsepower for two Nimitz-class aircraft carriers at full tilt when all seven engines are firing in concert. The company aims to use New Glenn for various missions, including building a lunar lander for NASA and constructing a commercial space station called Orbital Reef.
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued Blue Origin a launch license for New Glenn, allowing the company to launch the rocket from Cape Canaveral and land its reusable booster on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean. An FAA operational advisory indicates that the company is tentatively planning a launch window on December 31 or January 1.
Bezos took to social media to announce the successful test, saying “Next stop launch.” His competitor Elon Musk wished Blue Origin “godspeed” despite their rivalry. The rocket’s maiden flight may come sooner than expected, with NASA and Blue Origin in talks for a potential launch of a Mars orbiter mission called Escapade, set to take place no earlier than spring 2025.
Source: https://mashable.com/article/new-glenn-blue-origin-launch-date