Blue Origin, the company founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, has scrubbed its launch attempt due to a “vehicle subsystem issue”. The initial launch was scheduled for Monday, January 13, but had to be cancelled. Despite this setback, Blue Origin is confident that it will make history with its first orbital-class rocket, New Glenn.
The company’s New Glenn-1 mission aims to deploy the first stage booster, named ‘So You’re Ready’, into space and test its capabilities. The booster is powered by seven BE-4 engines and will use a combination of forward module fins and reaction control system to reorient itself for landing. A robot called the Recovery Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) will be deployed to attach to the booster after it lands.
Although the initial launch has been scrubbed, Blue Origin is already preparing for its next attempt. The company has a robust manufacturing process in place, with multiple boosters and second stages currently under production. Bezos stated that despite this setback, Blue Origin will continue to fly regularly throughout 2024 and ramp up operations quickly in 2026.
The primary goal of the New Glenn-1 mission is not only to test the capabilities of the booster but also to validate space-to-ground communications capabilities by sending commands, receiving telemetry, and performing radiometric tracking. The success of this mission will be crucial for Blue Origin’s future plans, including its path to profitability.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/01/13/live-coverage-blue-origin-to-launch-inaugural-new-glenn-rocket-from-cape-canaveral