Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is one step closer to lifting off on its maiden voyage.
Just before 8 p.m. on Friday evening, the company completed its long awaited hot-fire test, lighting up the pad at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and sending a rumble throughout North Brevard County.
Earlier in the day the Federal Aviation Administration gave Blue Origin the OK to proceed with the upcoming maiden launch.
About an hour later, the company issues a press release, stating that the 24-second test fire was successful. “The campaign met all objectives and marks the final major test prior to launch,” the statement read.
Blue Origin has not yet announced a launch date.
Friday’s hot fire test involved fueling and briefly firing the New Glenn’s seven engines. It was one of the key last steps before the giant rocket launches for the first time.
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The company received a Federal Aviation Administration launch license on Friday afternoon.
The FAA statement sent to FLORIDA TODAY stated: “The FAA is committed to enabling the success of the U.S. commercial space transportation industry without compromising public safety,” said the Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation Kelvin B. Coleman. “By working closely with Blue Origin, the FAA issued this new launch license well in advance of the statutory deadline for the historic maiden flight of New Glenn.”
Limp posted to X Friday that the company is “really close” to a launch date.
While Blue Origin launches its single-stage New Shepard from Texas − which carries payload and paying passengers on a short ride to the edge of space − this will be the first time the company has attempted the launch of a multi-stage rocket.
It will be this 320-foot tall multi-stage New Glenn which brings Blue Origin into the orbital − and beyond − payload game, becoming a competitor to SpaceX. A rocket with more than one stage is needed to get a payload to orbit.
Blue Origin was founded by former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. The rocket is named for the first American to orbit the Earth, John Glenn.
This maiden launch, known as NG-1, will be not only the first for this rocket, but a certification flight to prove it can carry Department of Defense payloads. Blue Origin is also contracted by NASA to launch its EscaPADE mission to Mars in Spring of 2025.
Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp has repeatedly stated the goal of a launching by years end.
Be sure to follow the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team for the latest.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
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