In a significant milestone for Jeff Bezos‘ aerospace venture, Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket for the first time early Thursday morning. The much-anticipated lift-off occurred at 2:03 AM EST (07:03 GMT) from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida, following several delays over the past week.

“LIFTOFF! New Glenn is beginning its first-ever ascent toward the stars,” Blue Origin announced in a post on X, confirming the successful launch. Shortly after, the company celebrated another achievement, stating, “New Glenn has passed the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space!” Just minutes later, they reported, “Second stage engine cutoff confirmed. New Glenn’s second stage and payload are now in orbit.”

A long-awaited launch

The inaugural mission, designated NG-1, was initially slated for January 10 but faced multiple postponements due to adverse weather conditions and technical issues. An earlier attempt on January 13 was scrubbed due to ice accumulation on a purge line. Blue Origin’s commitment to safety and precision was evident as they navigated these challenges.

This launch represents a pivotal moment for Blue Origin as it seeks to establish itself in a competitive market largely dominated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The New Glenn rocket is designed to be reusable, with plans for its first-stage booster to land on a drone ship approximately 620 miles off the coast in the Atlantic Ocean. While SpaceX has perfected this landing technique, this will be Blue Origin’s first attempt.

Future endeavors and competitions

Blue Origin has already secured contracts with NASA for launching two Mars probes aboard New Glenn. Additionally, it aims to deploy Project Kuiper, an ambitious satellite internet constellation that will compete with SpaceX’s Starlink service.

The successful launch of New Glenn not only enhances Blue Origin’s capabilities but also positions it as a serious contender against established players such as United Launch Alliance and Rocket Lab. As Bezos remarked in a pre-launch interview, “We’re nervous about the booster,” highlighting the high stakes involved in this inaugural flight.

With this successful mission, Blue Origin takes a significant step forward in its quest to revolutionize space travel and exploration. The company aims to launch each New Glenn booster at least 25 times and has already attracted a diverse range of customers from various sectors. As the world watches closely, Blue Origin’s journey into orbital flights marks an exciting chapter in the future of space exploration.