Blue Origin cancels first New Glenn rocket launch, delays debut mission

Photo: Reuters

Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, postponed the highly anticipated debut launch of its New Glenn rocket early Monday. The rocket, named after astronaut John Glenn, was set to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, but the mission was called off due to technical issues. Blue Origin announced the delay through a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, explaining that a problem with a vehicle subsystem required troubleshooting beyond the launch window.

The rocket, towering as high as a 30-story building and fueled by methane and liquid oxygen, was designed to compete in the booming satellite launch market. Liftoff was originally scheduled for 1:00 AM ET (0600 GMT). However, as the countdown progressed, the launch was repeatedly delayed. By 2:20 AM, Blue Origin confirmed that the team was working to resolve several issues, though the exact problems were not disclosed. The launch window was set to close at 4:00 AM, leaving little time to resolve the anomalies.

The New Glenn rocket represents a significant step for Blue Origin as it aims to challenge Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which has dominated the orbital launch industry with its Falcon 9 rockets. These rockets are crucial for commercial satellite launches, as well as missions for NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense. Speaking on the competition, retired NASA official G. Scott Hubbard described the arrival of Blue Origin as “great for the industry,” as it introduces a new player into a market long dominated by SpaceX.

One of the highlights of the New Glenn mission is Blue Origin’s plan to recover the rocket’s first-stage booster by landing it on a drone ship named Jacklyn, which is stationed approximately 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) off the Atlantic coast. The ship is named in honor of Jeff Bezos’ mother. While SpaceX has routinely landed boosters on drone ships, this marks Blue Origin’s first attempt at such a feat. Until now, Blue Origin has only conducted land-based landings with its smaller New Shepard rockets, used for suborbital space tourism.

During this mission, the rocket’s upper stage was also expected to fire its engines to reach Earth’s orbit, aiming for an altitude of 12,000 miles. A prototype spaceship, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense and named Blue Ring, was onboard for this six-hour test flight. Despite the delay, the New Glenn mission is seen as a key milestone in Blue Origin’s journey to becoming a major player in the space industry.

While the cancellation is a setback, the company remains optimistic about rescheduling the launch. Blue Origin has not yet announced the date for its next attempt, but it continues to emphasize its commitment to safety and precision as it prepares to enter the competitive space launch market.

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