Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, a towering 320-foot (98-meter) spacecraft, is poised for another launch attempt as early as Thursday after its initial debut was postponed due to technical issues.

The rocket, named of John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, was scheduled to lift off from Launch Complex 36 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Monday, January 13, 2025.

However, the launch was scrubbed shortly before liftoff due to ice accumulation in a critical plumbing system. The ice formed in a purge line connected to a unit that powers some of the rocket’s hydraulic systems, and launch controllers were unable to resolve the issue within the available time frame.

The mission, which aims to carry a prototype satellite into orbit, has faced multiple delays. Initially, rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean posed a risk to Blue Origin’s plan to recover the first-stage booster on a floating platform, forcing a postponement. Subsequently, unfavorable weather conditions on Tuesday and a conflicting SpaceX moonshot mission scheduled for Wednesday further pushed back the launch.

Despite these setbacks, Blue Origin remains committed to its goal. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Blue Origin and Amazon, emphasized the company’s resilience during the countdown on Monday, stating, “No matter what happens, we’re going to pick ourselves up and keep going.”

The New Glenn rocket represents a significant leap forward for Blue Origin, standing five times taller than its New Shepard rocket, which is designed to transport paying customers to the edge of space from its Texas launch site.

The New Glenn’s debut marks a pivotal moment for the company, which Bezos established 25 years ago. Bezos was present in Mission Control during Monday’s countdown, overseeing operations from the rocket factory located near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

The New Glenn rocket is designed to be reusable, with its first-stage booster intended to land on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean, a feat that aligns with Blue Origin’s goal of reducing the cost of space travel. This reusability factor is a critical component of the company’s long-term strategy to make space more accessible. The rocket’s payload capacity and versatility also make it a valuable asset for a variety of missions, from satellite deployments to potential crewed flights in the future.

As Blue Origin prepares for its next launch attempt, the aerospace community and space enthusiasts worldwide are watching closely. The New Glenn rocket symbolizes a new era of space exploration, driven by private companies that are redefining what is possible. With its cutting-edge technology and ambitious vision, Blue Origin is poised to play a significant role in shaping the future of space travel, paving the way for new discoveries and opportunities beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

Launch of Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rocket postponed | BBC News

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