By GB News (World News) | Created at 2025-01-16 19:41:29 | Updated at 2025-01-16 22:01:42
2 hours ago
Jeff Bezos's space company Blue Origin has successfully launched its massive New Glenn rocket into orbit for the first time, marking a significant challenge to Elon Musk's dominance in the commercial space industry.
The 320-foot rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 2.03am EST (7.03am GMT) on Thursday, achieving orbit just 13 minutes later.
The launch represents a crucial milestone for Amazon founder Bezos's space venture, which he established 25 years ago with the goal of reducing the cost of access to space.
It came after several delays, including a scrubbed attempt on Monday due to ice accumulation on a propellant line and earlier postponements caused by rough seas.
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket lifts off from pad 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
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The Blue Origin New Glenn rocket lits off at Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Getty
"What a fantastic day," Blue Origin's launch commentator Ariane Cornell said after the successful orbital insertion.
Company CEO Dave Limp celebrated the achievement on social media platform X, declaring: "We did it! Orbital."
The mission was expected to last six hours, with the prototype satellite being placed in a high orbit in accordance with NASA's space debris minimisation practices.
Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, congratulated Bezos on social media platform X after New Glenn successfully reached orbit.
Jeff Bezos, founder and executive chairman of Amazon
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The launch follows recent SpaceX activities, including a delayed Starship flight test and the successful launch of two private lunar landers to the moon on Wednesday.
The New Glenn rocket, named after the first American to orbit Earth, is five times taller than Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket used for tourist flights. Blue Origin envisions six to eight New Glenn flights this year if everything goes well, with the next launch planned for spring.
Bezos emphasised he does not view Blue Origin in competition with SpaceX.
"There's room for lots of winners," he said from the rocket factory over the weekend.
