On a launchpad located in Florida, which has not been active for nearly two decades, a significant event is on the horizon. A new rocket, towering approximately 320 feet (or 98 meters), crafted by Jeff Bezos’s company, Blue Origin, is gearing up for its first-ever flight. This rocket, aptly named New Glenn, represents Blue Origin’s ambitious foray into the complexities of orbital launches, marking the company’s first attempt to reach orbit and effectively competing with SpaceX, which has maintained a stronghold in the launch industry for years.
The much-anticipated maiden flight of New Glenn is scheduled to take place from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station as early as the coming week. The rocket’s impressive height is comparable to that of a 30-story skyscraper and is composed of various components crafted for a strategic purpose. The first stage booster is engineered to deliver the thrust needed for liftoff. Positioned above it, the upper stage houses a cargo bay protected by a nose cone, which will carry experimental technology during this mission.
In a significant tactical move, Blue Origin aims to emulate SpaceX’s success in reusing rocket boosters. After the rocket’s launch, New Glenn’s first-stage booster is intended to return and safely land on a floating platform named Jacklyn, honoring Bezos’s mother. This recovery technique aligns with the approach taken by SpaceX, which also places great emphasis on retrieving rocket components for refurbishment and reusability, ultimately aiming to reduce the cost of space travel.
However, the task at hand is not without its challenges. The inaugural flight does not guarantee a flawless mission, but success is crucial for Blue Origin’s broader ambitious objectives. New Glenn is envisioned to be versatile, capable of supporting pivotal national security launches, transporting Amazon’s internet-satellite network to orbit, and even aiding in the construction of a new space station, which Blue Origin is developing in collaboration with commercial partners.
The development of New Glenn was unveiled formally in 2016, a project that aimed to surpass SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets and transport payloads of up to 45 metric tons (approximately 99,200 pounds) into orbit. Nevertheless, the project has seen delays, initially aiming for a 2020 launch date. Delays are a not uncommon phenomenon in the aerospace sector, and the launch of a new rocket is often riddled with unforeseen setbacks.
With Blue Origin’s conservative approach to rocket development, promoting a careful methodology that avoids shortcuts, the company has adopted the tortoise as its mascot, reflecting the adage from the fable “The Tortoise and the Hare.” Jeff Bezos himself remarked in 2016 that “slow is smooth and smooth is fast,” suggesting a contrasting operational philosophy to SpaceX, which is renowned for its rapid, trial-and-error approach.
While SpaceX has already triumphed in reaching orbit, marking its first successful vehicle launch back in 2008 with Falcon 1, the company has conducted numerous operational missions since. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 has demonstrated a strong track record, with some failures throughout testing phases yet remaining reliable for human spaceflight missions.
As of now, Blue Origin is primarily recognized for its ventures into space tourism, employing the smaller New Shepard rocket, which, while successful, does not match the capabilities of New Glenn. The anticipated flight of New Glenn will serve as a showcase of its strengths in the commercial space realm, targeting not only federal contracts but also partnerships with numerous companies, including the deployment of Amazon’s Kuiper internet satellites.
In preparation for its inaugural flight, Blue Origin had initially planned to launch satellites for NASA. However, due to developmental delays, this objective was adjusted in favor of testing a “demonstrator” designed to validate technology essential for the company’s proposed Blue Ring spacecraft. This aircraft aims to facilitate satellite deployment deeper into space.
Although Blue Origin has pursued the goal of reusability for its rockets since its inception, it’s acknowledged that the timeframe to reach orbit has been considerably lengthened compared to expected schedules and industry norms. If successful, the landing of New Glenn’s rocket booster would be a remarkable technical achievement, requiring precision maneuvering and timing that underscores the complexities associated with launching, maintaining, and reclaiming space-bound technology. Thus, the evolution of New Glenn not only reflects significant progress for Blue Origin but also a pivotal moment in the competitive landscape of the aerospace industry.