Blue Origin’s highly anticipated New Glenn rocket launch faces unexpected delay due to technical complications, leaving space enthusiasts wondering about the future of private space exploration.
At a Glance
- Blue Origin postponed the launch of its New Glenn rocket due to a vehicle subsystem issue
- The launch was initially scheduled for January 13, 2025, from Florida’s Space Coast
- New Glenn is Blue Origin’s first orbital-class rocket, standing 320 feet tall
- This setback follows a previous delay caused by rough seas affecting booster landing
- No new launch date has been set as the team works to resolve the technical problem
Blue Origin’s New Glenn Launch Postponed
In a disappointing turn of events for space enthusiasts and industry watchers, Blue Origin, the space company founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, has postponed the launch of its New Glenn rocket. The highly anticipated event, scheduled for January 13, 2025, from Florida’s Space Coast, was called off due to technical complications that arose during the final countdown.
The launch window opened at 1 a.m. EST, but after multiple delays, the mission was officially scrubbed at 3:10 a.m. EST. Blue Origin cited a vehicle subsystem issue as the reason for the postponement, though specific details were not disclosed to the public. This setback marks another hurdle for the company’s ambitious space exploration plans.
If the New Glenn launch attempt is aborted this morning, it likely would necessitate a 48-hour delay (at least). The weather becomes poorer two days from now, and the current launch window closes on January 16. So this may be their only chance for a bit. We'll see.
— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) January 13, 2025
The New Glenn Rocket: A Decade in the Making
The New Glenn rocket represents a significant milestone for Blue Origin. As the company’s first orbital-class rocket, it has been in development for approximately a decade. Standing at an impressive 320 feet (98 meters) tall, the New Glenn is five times larger than Blue Origin’s suborbital New Shepard rocket, which has been used for brief space tourism flights.
“We’re standing down on today’s launch attempt to troubleshoot a vehicle subsystem issue that will take us beyond our launch window. We’re reviewing opportunities for our next launch attempt,” Blue Origin said.
Named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, the New Glenn rocket was set to carry a prototype satellite on its maiden voyage. The launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station was intended to demonstrate the rocket’s capabilities and mark Blue Origin’s entry into the orbital launch market.
A Series of Setbacks
This is not the first delay for the New Glenn launch. Initially scheduled for January 10, the mission was postponed due to rough seas that would have affected the landing of the first-stage booster. The current launch window extends through January 16, 2025, but given the nature of the technical issue, it’s unclear whether Blue Origin will be able to attempt another launch within this timeframe.
The countdown on January 13 progressed smoothly until the final minutes when an unspecified issue arose. As a result, the launch was halted, and fuel was drained from the rocket. Jeff Bezos, who was present at Mission Control during the countdown, and his team now face the challenge of resolving these technical hurdles before setting a new launch date.