Blue Origin Postpones New Glenn Rocket Launch Due to Technical Issue
Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, has postponed the highly anticipated launch of its New Glenn rocket due to a vehicle subsystem issue. The launch, originally scheduled for a three-hour window at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, faced multiple delays before being ultimately postponed.
The initial liftoff time was set for 1:31 a.m. Eastern Time, but subsequent delays pushed the launch time to 1:52 a.m., 2:07 a.m., 2:27 a.m., 2:48 a.m., and finally 3:15 a.m. Blue Origin is now reviewing opportunities for the next launch attempt, with no new date confirmed as of yet.
Industry reactions to the launch attempt were mixed. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk had wished Blue Origin well ahead of the launch. The company had aimed for the New Glenn to reach orbit and potentially recover the booster in the Atlantic, a feat that would have supported Jeff Bezos’ ambitious plans for Blue Origin.
This setback comes amid a series of challenges for Blue Origin. The company has previously developed other vehicles, including the New Shepard. However, a New Shepard mission failure in September 2022 led to a grounding by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Blue Origin was required to implement 21 corrective actions before resuming flights.
Jeff Bezos, who founded Blue Origin in 2000, stepped down as Amazon’s CEO in 2021 to focus on the aerospace company. He has expressed a desire to add energy and urgency to Blue Origin’s projects, highlighting the importance of this launch for the company’s future.
Blue Origin did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the postponement. As the aerospace industry watches closely, the company’s next steps and revised launch plans remain to be seen.