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

Verified

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 for the U.S. Space Force’s National Security Space Launch program, following multiple delays due to weather and technical issues.
The maiden flight of the 320-foot rocket includes an ambitious attempt to land its reusable lower stage on a floating platform in the Atlantic and will deploy Blue Origin's Blue Ring Pathfinder, a prototype spacecraft for in-space services.
Blue Origin's primary objective is to safely reach orbit to gather valuable data and certify New Glenn for future operations, with the challenging booster recovery viewed as an important but secondary "icing on the cake" goal for this inaugural mission.

See a mistake? Contact us.

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.