Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin launches massive New Glenn rocket on first test flight

New Glenn rocket, named after John Glenn, successfully launches from Florida with experimental satellite for orbit testing.

Blue Origin launched its massive new rocket on its first test flight Thursday (January 16, 2025), sending up a prototype satellite to orbit thousands of miles above Earth.

Named after the first American to orbit Earth, the New Glenn rocket blasted off from Florida, soaring from the same pad used to launch NASA's Mariner and Pioneer spacecraft a half-century ago.

Years in the making with heavy funding by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the 320-foot (98-meter) rocket carried an an experimental platform designed to host satellites or release them into their proper orbits. All seven main engines fired at liftoff as the rocket blazed through the predawn sky, drawing cheers from spectators lining the nearby beaches. Company employees erupted in shouts and frenzied applause once the craft successfully orbit 13 minutes later, a feat that drew quick praise from SpaceX's Elon Musk.

Mr. Bezos — taking part in the launch from Mission Control — declined to disclose his personal investment in the program. He said he does not see Blue Origin in a competition with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, long the rocket-launching dominator.

He stood much of the time at his seat in Mission Control, looking anxious and happy at the same time.

“Congratulations on reaching orbit on the first attempt!” Mr. Musk said via X.

For this test, the satellite was expected to remain inside the second stage while circling Earth. The mission was expected to last six hours, with the second stage then placed in a safe condition to stay in a high, out-of-the-way orbit in accordance with NASA's practices for minimizing space junk.