After a failed launch attempt and weather-related delays, Blue Origin will once again attempt to send its New Glenn rocket into space for the first time. During this attempt, Jeff Bezos’ space company intends to reach orbit, which will contribute to its goals of delivering satellites, equipment and, eventually, people into space as part of Project Kuiper.
What is New Glenn?
The New Glenn is a 320-foot tall rocket originally announced by Blue Origin in 2016. Although Blue Origin planned to launch the New Glenn by 2020, the project has been plagued by delays due to engine development issues and other technical setbacks.
The rocket has a reusable first stage powered by BE-4 engines that run on liquefied natural gas and liquid oxygen. Shortly after launch, the first stage should separate and autonomously land vertically on an offshore platform, where Blue Origin can retrieve it and reuse it for future missions.
After separation, the upper stage of the New Glenn should launch BE-3U engines – less powerful engines that use liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen – and try to launch itself into space with a payload. The upper stage is capable of delivering 45 tons of cargo to low Earth orbit.
For this unmanned launch, New Glenn will carry the Blue Ring Pathfinder, a payload consisting of a communications array, power system and onboard computer. This will allow Blue Origin to test its Blue Ring spacecraft, which will eventually support missions with refueling, hosting, data transmission and cloud computing capabilities.
Earlier this week, Blue Origin canceled the launch of New Glenn due to a “problem with a rocket subsystem.” A successful first launch could make Blue Origin a serious competitor to Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Both commercial space companies are not only competing for government contracts, but are also working on building Internet satellites: SpaceX regularly launches Starlink satellites into space, and Blue Origin is ready to support Amazon’s Project Kuiper initiative.
When will Blue Origin launch New Glenn?
Blue Origin’s next launch attempt will take place at Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday, January 16. The three-hour launch window opens at 1 a.m. ET (10 p.m. PT).
Blue Origin says the “rocket looks good” for Thursday’s launch, but says it is “closely monitoring the weather as clouds are gathering over the space coast.” If the company is unable to launch New Glenn on the 16th, it will make another attempt on Friday, January 17, with a three-hour window opening at 1 am.
