New Glenn streaks above Cape Canaveral Florida after its successful launch. Image by Richard P Gallagher
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – In an impressive feat of aerospace engineering and perseverance, Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket finally reached orbit in its inaugural NG-1 mission, launched successfully from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station just after 2am on January 16, 2025. This launch was a critical step for the company founded by Jeff Bezos, showcasing its capabilities in the realm of heavy-lift, reusable rocket technology.
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The Journey to Launch:
The path to this morning’s successful launch was fraught with challenges and delays. New Glenn’s journey began years ago with its development announced in 2016, named in homage to astronaut John Glenn. The rocket, standing at an imposing 322 feet tall, was designed to be a direct competitor to SpaceX’s Falcon 9, with a focus on reusability to reduce the cost of space access.
The NG-1 mission was initially targeted for late 2024, but various hurdles pushed the timeline into the new year. A critical moment came with the hot fire test on December 27, 2024, where all seven BE-4 engines of the first stage were ignited for 24 seconds, including 13 seconds at full thrust. This test was pivotal, not only confirming the engine’s performance but also securing the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) launch license for New Glenn just hours before the test.
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Scrubbed Attempts:
Despite thorough preparation, the first launch attempt on January 13, 2025, was scrubbed due to a technical issue described as “ice forming in a purge line on an auxiliary power unit” that powers some hydraulic systems. This led to a series of countdown resets, ultimately exhausting the launch window for that day. A second attempt was also scrubbed due to poor weather, winds and wave heights. The third attempt was postponed to January 16, highlighting the complexities and dedication to safety involved in maiden flights of new rocket systems.
Ignition and liftoff. Images by Richard P Gallagher
Another factor in the delays was the sea state conditions, which are crucial for the recovery of the reusable first stage. Blue Origin’s strategy involves landing the booster on a ship named Jacklyn in the Atlantic, a task made more challenging by high waves. Weather conditions, therefore, played a significant role in the timing of attempts, with rough seas cited as reasons for prior rescheduling.
The Successful Launch:
The successful launch came after these setbacks, with the New Glenn lifting off in the early hours, carrying the Blue Ring Pathfinder, which was designed to test in-space operations and communications capabilities. The mission’s objectives included not just reaching orbit but also attempting the first-stage booster landing on the Jacklyn droneship, an ambitious goal for a debut flight.
The rocket endured the maximum dynamic pressure, a critical phase where the vehicle faces significant aerodynamic forces and managed to separate its stages as planned. The first stage then began its descent for recovery, while the second stage and the Blue Ring Pathfinder continued into their elliptical medium Earth orbit, expected to last six hours before deorbiting. The first stage booster failed to land on the drone ship. No other details were given at the time of writing this article.
New Glenn soars towards orbit before disappearing above clouds. Images by Richard P Gallagher
Implications and Future Plans:
This success is crucial for Blue Origin, not only as a technological achievement but also for securing its position in the competitive launch market, particularly for national security missions. The NG-1 mission was the first step towards certifying New Glenn for the National Security Space Launch program, potentially opening doors to significant government contracts.
Blue Origin aims to capitalize on this launch by ramping up production and preparing for subsequent flights, with plans to support NASA, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and various other clients. The company’s emphasis on reusability could pave the way for more cost-effective and frequent space missions, echoing the transformative impact SpaceX has had on the industry.