Blue Origin’s Upcoming Attempt to Land a Rocket Bigger than SpaceX’s Falcon 9 on a Ship

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Blue Origin Set to Launch New Glenn Rocket Amid Competition with SpaceX

Blue Origin, the space venture founded by Jeff Bezos, has officially slated the launch of its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket for January 10th, marking a crucial gamble in the competitive landscape of aerospace. This ambitious attempt aims to position New Glenn as the United States’ second operational heavy-lift rocket, joining SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy in its capability to transport over 44,000 pounds to low Earth orbit (LEO). Notably, this launch window coincides with SpaceX’s anticipated Starship Flight 7, which is also rumored to be targeting a January 10th launch date, although SpaceX has yet to confirm this plan.

Innovative Launch with Pathfinder Mission

Blue Origin’s inaugural flight of the New Glenn will feature the Pathfinder mission, intended to send critical payloads into orbit. Emulating SpaceX’s Falcon 9, the New Glenn rocket leverages a first-stage booster designed to land on a drone ship post-launch. However, Blue Origin’s technology surpasses that of Falcon 9, as it is equipped with a potent thrust output of 3.8 million pounds, compared to Falcon 9’s 1.7 million pounds. The goal of the first flight is to successfully land the booster offshore, a historic venture for a rocket of this size.

In a recent statement, Blue Origin expressed confidence, noting, “landing the booster on our first try offshore in the Atlantic is ambitious—but we’re going for it.”

Blue Origin's New Glenn during processing — The New Glenn during processing at Blue Origin’s facilities. Image: Dave Limp/X

A Strategic Launch Window

The choice of January 10th also strategically positions New Glenn for an early-morning lift-off, one hour after midnight Eastern Time. In contrast, SpaceX’s Starship test flights typically take place later in the morning, which may allow New Glenn to launch first. The planned three-hour window for this inaugural flight indicates that timing is of the essence for Blue Origin.

National Security Implications

Onboard the New Glenn will be the Blue Ring Pathfinder payload, a prototype designed for orbital logistics to be utilized by the Department of Defense. This choice underscores the significance of the mission — a successful launch will elevate Blue Origin to the ranks of national security launch service providers, joining the likes of SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) in catering to Pentagon requirements.

Testing Advanced Capabilities

The mission also holds critical importance for Blue Origin’s operational development. During the flight, the team will assess various systems, including space-to-ground communications and telemetry collection processes. However, it’s important to note that the Pathfinder payload will remain secured within the New Glenn’s second stage throughout the entirety of the six-hour mission, focusing on system evaluations rather than deployment.

As the launch date approaches, the aerospace community keenly anticipates the results of this pioneering effort. The competition between Blue Origin and SpaceX is poised to shape the future of space exploration and commercial launch capabilities.

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