Jeff Bezos’ space company has achieved a major milestone with its powerful rocket, silencing skeptics about its capabilities. On Thursday morning, New Glenn successfully launched into orbit, igniting seven engines at the base of the 320-foot-tall rocket and reaching orbit just 13 minutes later. The launch was a significant success for Blue Origin, marking its first orbital flight and demonstrating the company’s technical capability.
Despite initial doubts about its ability to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, New Glenn has proven itself as a credible competitor in the launch industry. With a successful inaugural launch, Blue Origin is now poised to take on launch contracts from NASA and the Department of Defense, as well as commercial contracts. The rocket’s reusable design also paves the way for future launches.
While Blue Origin fell short of landing the booster stage on a barge, as planned, the company remains optimistic about its progress. CEO Dave Limp stated that they will learn from the experience and try again at their next launch this spring. With plans to launch multiple times this year, including an uncrewed moon lander and a spacecraft for NASA astronauts, Blue Origin is solidifying its position in the space industry.
The successful launch of New Glenn marks a significant achievement for Jeff Bezos’ ambitious vision of millions of people working and living in space. With this milestone, Blue Origin has proven itself as a serious competitor to SpaceX, and its future prospects look promising.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/science/bezos-blue-origin-launch.html