Blue Origin Sets New Target for New Glenn Rocket Maiden Voyage

Inaugural mission, NG-1, was originally scheduled to launch January 10 but was delayed and ultimately scrubbed when ice formed on one of the power units.

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 03:04 PM ET

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Blue Origin’s massive New Glenn rocket is loaded with liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas propellant ahead of its debut orbital launch. [Courtesy: Blue Origin]

Key Takeaways:

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is now targeting its debut launch for Thursday at 1 a.m. EST, following multiple delays caused by weather conditions and a technical issue with ice on a power unit.
The 320-foot rocket's maiden voyage for the U.S. Space Force's NSSL program will carry the Blue Ring Pathfinder prototype, with the primary objective being to safely reach orbit.
A key, ambitious secondary goal for the mission is to attempt the recovery of the reusable first stage booster on a floating platform in the Atlantic, a challenging maneuver rarely achieved on a debut flight.
This certification flight is crucial for collecting valuable data to refine future missions, with Blue Origin emphasizing learning and refinement even if the mission doesn't go entirely as planned.

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Blue Origin is now targeting no earlier than Thursday at 1 a.m. EST for the debut of its New Glenn rocket.

The spacecraft—whose two stages tower 320 feet when stacked, making it one of the largest rockets ever built—is scheduled to make its maiden voyage for the U.S. Space Force’s National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, which sends the nation’s most valuable and sensitive military satellites into orbit. The FAA earlier this month gave the green light for the mission to proceed.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.