Blue Origin is expected to launch its first New Glenn rocket next week, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) predicting a launch window between January 6 and January 12. The company has not publicly announced the exact date and time of the test flight, but it is expected to occur between 1 a.m. EST and 4:45 a.m. EST.
The first New Glenn rocket will be launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, carrying a payload simulator version of Blue Origin’s multi-use Blue Ring spacecraft, called NG-1. The mission aims to test the communications capabilities of the future Blue Ring production space vehicle and validate its in-space telemetry, tracking, and command hardware.
The rocket is designed to be reusable, with its first stage returning to Earth for an ocean platform landing. Each New Glenn booster should be capable of up to 25 flights, making it a significant milestone for the private spaceflight company.
Blue Origin has named its first New Glenn booster “So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance” and has sent its landing drone ship, Jacklyn, out to sea for a planned landing attempt in the Atlantic Ocean. The company has secured launch agreements with NASA, Amazon, AST SpaceMobile, and other customers for its New Glenn rocket.
The six-hour mission is expected to demonstrate the capabilities of the New Glenn rocket and pave the way for future launches. With its successful debut, Blue Origin aims to become a major player in the big booster market.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/blue-origin-ready-to-launch-1st-new-glenn-rocket