This is reported by RBK-Ukraine citing CNN. The information comes from Kontrakty.UA.
The publication states that the unmanned rocket launcher named New Glenn will represent Blue Origin's first attempt to send a rocket into orbit, which is essential if the company hopes to challenge the long-standing dominance of Elon Musk's SpaceX in this field. The launch is scheduled for next week from the Space Force base at Cape Canaveral.
The New Glenn rocket, which stands as tall as a 30-story building, consists of several components:
- a first-stage rocket booster that provides initial thrust during launch;
- as well as an upper stage on top of the booster that includes a payload compartment protected by a nose cone. This compartment will house experimental technologies for future missions.
In an effort to replicate the success SpaceX has achieved with the reuse of rocket boosters, Blue Origin will also attempt to guide the first stage of the New Glenn rocket back for a safe landing on a sea platform, which is expected to occur a few minutes after liftoff.
Like SpaceX, Blue Origin aims to recover and reuse the first-stage boosters to reduce costs. However, a smooth flight is not guaranteed for the inaugural mission.
Nevertheless, the success of New Glenn, named after the legendary NASA astronaut John Glenn, will play a crucial role in achieving some of Blue Origin's most ambitious goals.
As CNN reports, this rocket could one day be used for:
- launching space vehicles essential for national security;
- deploying Amazon's internet satellites into orbit;
- and even assisting in the construction of a space station that Blue Origin is developing in collaboration with commercial partners.
It is worth noting that during the fifth test flight of the SpaceX spacecraft, which took place on October 13, 2024, in Texas, SpaceX achieved a milestone that had eluded them previously. This refers to the successful landing of the booster.