Blue Origin Achieves Historic New glenn Rocket landing,Launches NASA Spacecraft
Cape Canaveral,FL – November 7,2024 – Blue Origin successfully landed its New Glenn rocket booster today,marking a pivotal moment for the company and a significant advancement in reusable rocket technology. The 189-foot-tall booster touched down on its landing platform approximately 10 minutes after launching from Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at around 3:55 p.m. ET.This successful landing followed a delayed launch schedule, impacted by weather and solar storms, after an initial attempt in January resulted in the booster’s destruction during landing.
The launch also carried a NASA spacecraft, furthering the agency’s lunar ambitions. Blue origin is currently developing a lunar lander and has pledged to accelerate its progress in supporting NASA’s return to the moon.
“We will move heaven and Earth” to help NASA get back to the moon faster, Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp recently stated, emphasizing the importance of New Glenn’s success to thes goals.
This achievement places Blue Origin alongside spacex, which has already mastered booster reusability with its Falcon and Starship rockets. The ability to reuse rocket boosters substantially lowers launch costs for both commercial and government customers. Blue Origin now faces the challenge of demonstrating its ability to refurbish and relaunch the recovered booster.
The successful New Glenn flight is a major step forward after delays in getting the second rocket to launch.The company had initially hoped for a second attempt as early as spring. SpaceX CEO Gwynne Shotwell acknowledged the accomplishment with a post on X calling it “Magnificent!” and Elon Musk also offered his congratulations.
Acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy recently criticized SpaceX for moving too slowly in developing its Starship lunar lander,highlighting the urgency of advancing lunar programs.
