The New Glenn rocket, developed by Blue Origin, successfully launched into orbit on Thursday, 16 January, marking a pivotal step towards challenging Elon Musk’s SpaceX organisation.

The 90-metre-tall rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, following delays earlier in the week due to icy conditions.

After a decade of development, the launch signifies Blue Origin’s first orbital mission. While the rocket reached orbit as planned, the reusable first-stage booster failed to land on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean, which was a secondary objective.

Despite this, the mission has been hailed as a major milestone for the company founded by Amazon owner, Jeff Bezos.

Onboard the New Glenn was a prototype of Blue Origin’s Blue Ring spacecraft, a manoeuvrable vehicle intended for satellite servicing and national security missions. The rocket is also central to the private space tech company’s ambitions to deploy satellites for its Project Kuiper broadband network, which aims to rival Musk’s Starlink.

Experts predict that Blue Origin’s entry into the orbital space race will intensify competition, driving down costs and accelerating innovation in space exploration. With New Glenn’s success, Bezos has positioned his company as a formidable competitor in the expanding commercial space industry.

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