Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is set for another launch attempt in late spring, with the company aiming to land its first stage booster successfully. CEO Dave Limp shared his plans and goals during a talk at the Commercial Space Conference in Washington. The top priority for Blue Origin is flying New Glenn again, which will also involve recovering the giant rocket’s first stage by landing it on an autonomous landing barge.
Limp mentioned that the company has figured out the malfunction that occurred during its debut launch last year, when telemetry froze while the booster was at 84,226 feet above the Atlantic. He stated that the modifications are not complicated and attributed the issue to a combination of factors.
After three test flights, Blue Origin plans to commence commercial missions for various customers, including Amazon, which has booked 12 New Glenn launches. The company faces a Federal Communications Commission deadline of July 30, 2026, to have half of its planned constellation of 3,236 satellites in orbit.
Limp also discussed the Blue Moon series of lunar landers, with a Mark 1 model set to deliver three tons of cargo to the Moon and a crewed version for NASA’s Artemis project. He expressed confidence that Blue Origin can meet the ambitious goal of landing the largest vehicle ever on the lunar surface by this year.
The CEO also talked about President Trump’s recent emphasis on sending astronauts to Mars, which aligns with Elon Musk’s long-term goal. Limp stated that solving the basic challenges in building Blue Moon will pay off for missions to Mars and emphasized the importance of overcoming obstacles before pursuing more ambitious goals.
In a lighter tone, Limp joked about working under Jeff Bezos, saying he would “pay him for this job” if given the chance. The CEO described working with Bezos as a masterclass, highlighting his extensive knowledge of rockets and rocket engines.
Overall, Blue Origin’s plans and ambitions are centered around pushing the boundaries of space exploration, from landing on the Moon to sending humans to Mars.
Source: https://uk.pcmag.com/news/156680/blue-origin-chief-offers-guarded-glimpse-at-whats-next-for-bezos-spacex-rival