Blue Origin Aims for January 10 Launch of New Glenn Rocket
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New Delhi, Jan 7 (NationPress) Blue Origin is setting its sights on January 10 for the launch of its impressive new rocket, New Glenn, according to a statement from the company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on Tuesday.
"The inaugural mission of New Glenn (NG-1) is planned for no earlier than Friday, January 10, from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida," the company noted in a blog post.
"NG-1 represents our first flight certified for National Security Space Launch," they added.
New Glenn will transport a payload known as Blue Ring Pathfinder, which is designed to test essential systems for the Defense Innovation Unit's Orbital Logistics program.
The primary goal of this mission is to achieve a safe orbit. Additionally, the company plans to execute an ambitious booster landing in the Atlantic Ocean, marking its first attempt offshore.
"This is our inaugural flight, and we have prepared extensively for it," stated Jarrett Jones, SVP of New Glenn.
"However, no amount of ground testing or mission simulations can substitute for actually flying this rocket. It’s time to take off. Regardless of the outcome, we will learn, improve, and utilize that knowledge for our subsequent launch," he further commented.
In December, Blue Origin confirmed that New Glenn had successfully completed a critical hot-fire test. This was the first test of the integrated launch vehicle.
During this test, the vehicle remained securely attached to the launchpad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
After the hot-fire test, the encapsulated Blue Ring Pathfinder was integrated into the launch vehicle. The company also acquired a commercial space launch license for New Glenn's launch from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
"Blue Ring Pathfinder integrated. Launch license obtained. Here we go!" exclaimed Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, in a post on social media platform X.
The initial target for New Glenn's debut launch was 2020, but delays in the development of the BE-4 engine have caused multiple postponements.
Standing at 98 meters, New Glenn is the largest and most powerful rocket ever constructed and launched.
This rocket is named in honor of NASA astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, completing three orbits in 1962.
