Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Reaches Orbit

On January 16, 2025, Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket successfully reached orbit on its first launch attempt from Cape Canaveral, marking a significant milestone in commercial spaceflight and positioning the company to compete with SpaceX. The 320-foot rocket, powered by seven BE-4 engines, achieved its primary objective despite losing its booster during descent. Blue Origin's CEO, Dave Limp, expressed pride in the achievement, emphasizing the importance of this mission for future endeavors, including plans to support NASA's Artemis program. New Glenn is designed to carry large payloads, including satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper, and has secured contracts with the U.S. Space Force and other telecommunications providers. This success reflects Blue Origin's long-term vision of expanding human presence in space, a goal that Jeff Bezos has pursued since founding the company in 2000. The launch not only demonstrates Blue Origin's capabilities but also sets a competitive tone in the rapidly evolving commercial space industry.