LIFTOFF! Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Makes Its Historical Debut
13th Jan 2025
Blue Origin’s highly anticipated first orbital launch of the heavy-lift New Glenn rocket was postponed early this morning due to a technical issue. The launch, set to take place from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, was scrubbed shortly after 3 a.m. ET, just an hour before the end of the designated three-hour launch window.
“We are standing down today’s launch attempt to troubleshoot a vehicle subsystem issue that will take us beyond our launch window,” said launch commentator Ariane Cornell. The team is now evaluating opportunities for the next launch attempt.
New Glenn Launches For The First Time
On 16th January, at 2:03 a.m. EST (0703 GMT), Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket made its historic debut, lifting off from a launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Florida’s Space Coast.
Approximately 12.5 minutes after liftoff, the rocket’s upper stage successfully achieved orbit, marking a key milestone in the NG-1 test flight mission.
Jeff Bezos shared a video of the New Glenn rocket lifting off on X.
Soon after, Blue Origin confirmed the mission’s success, stating that the second stage had reached its final orbit following two successful BE-3U engine burns. The Blue Ring Pathfinder also performed well, transmitting valuable data to the team.
However, the booster was lost during descent, the company added on X.
“We knew landing the first stage on the first try was ambitious. We’ll learn, refine, and apply that knowledge to our next launch in the spring. We’re thrilled with today’s outcome,” they stated.
New Glenn Launch In Final Moments: Launch Delayed By 20 Minutes, Again

Blue Origin has extended the countdown for the third time this morning. The new launch time is at 0754 GMT.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is in a final countdown for its maiden launch at 0727 GMT on 13th January. The rocket is on Pad 36 at Cape Canaveral in Florida. The New Glenn launch was delayed over the past weekend in order to attempt a return at sea for the first stage. Seas had been too rough for the launch.
The booster recovery is only part of the system being tested in the launch. The main thrust of the launch is to put the upper stage into orbit.
New Glenn launch and Blue Origin’s roots
While the New Glenn launch is a major step for Blue Origin, the launch team pulls on the company’s successes with the New Shepard rocket. The launch webcaster points out that key personnel are all experienced in launch and recovery from the company’s smaller launches.
While the rocket is new, the booster stage engines have been used previously. United Launch Alliance uses a pair of the BE-4 engines on its Vulcan rocket.
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