Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin successfully landed the booster of its New Glenn rocket on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean during its second attempt, making it the second company after SpaceX to achieve this feat. This accomplishment allows new rocket systems to carry larger payloads into space, including NASA’s twin spacecraft now bound for Mars.
The launch, which took place from Cape Canaveral, Florida, followed several delays and marked only the second flight of the massive New Glenn rocket. About ten minutes after takeoff, the 189-foot booster returned to the platform, showcasing Blue Origin’s commitment to reusable rocket technology, crucial for reducing costs in commercial spaceflight.
While SpaceX’s CEO Gwynne Shotwell and founder Elon Musk acknowledged Blue Origin’s achievement, the company must now prove its ability to refurbish the booster for future launches. Blue Origin aims to support NASA’s lunar ambitions, with CEO Dave Limp stating the company’s determination to accelerate moon mission plans, contingent on New Glenn’s continued success.
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