The new Glenn from Blue Origin The heavy launcher is now ready for its first flight. The company led – and completed successfully – a wet dress rehearsal or a full rocket launch countdown. As The New York Times reports that Blue Origin had to attempt the countdown several times over the course of a few hours, but the company ultimately managed to get all seven of New Glenn’s engines fired and fired for 24 seconds.
New Glenn’s tanks were filled with fuel, and the rocket was equipped with a 45,000-pound payload mass simulator, as if it were actually heading into space. Blue Origin says this is the first time it has operated the vehicle as an integrated system, with New Glenn executive vice president Jarrett Jones calling the test’s completion a “monumental milestone.” The Federal Aviation Administration also granted to the company with a launch license for New Glenn, meaning it is now truly ready to go.
The company describes New Glenn as a “giant, reusable rocket designed for bigger things.” He also said it was “designed with the safety and redundancy needed to fly humans”, although its maiden flight will be uncrewed. His first flight was supposed will take place in October carrying two NASA satellites towards Mars, but it had to be abandoned because the rocket was not ready at that time. New Glenn will now fly for the first time with the company’s Blue Ring Pathfinder, part of its Blue Ring platform that will offer spacecraft services to customers like the Pentagon. Although Blue Origin has not announced a new launch date for the rocket, it would be the company’s first flight for 2025 and could take place from January 6.
