Expand / Collapse search
☰

Blue Origin targets Jan. 10 for inaugural mission of New Glenn rocket with Blue Ring Pathfinder payload

By
Published  January 6, 2025 11:21pm EST
Space
FOX 35 Orlando

Blue Origin expected to launch New Glenn rocket in January

Blue Origins first vehicle bound for low-earth orbit, the New Glenn rocket, is expected to launch in January. FOX 35's Esther Bower learns more about this expected launch and maiden voyage.

The Brief

    • New Glenn's first mission (NG-1) is scheduled for January 10, launching from Cape Canaveral. 
    • The payload, Blue Ring Pathfinder, will test key systems for the Defense Innovation Unit’s Orbital Logistics program. 
    • The mission aims to reach orbit safely and attempt a first-time booster landing offshore in the Atlantic.

New Glenn's inaugural mission (NG-1) is set for launch no earlier than Friday, January 10, from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. 

The three-hour window will open at 1 a.m. EST (0600 UTC).

The mission will carry the Blue Ring Pathfinder payload, designed to test core flight, ground systems, and operational capabilities as part of the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Orbital Logistics prototype effort.

"This is our first flight and we’ve prepared rigorously for it," said Jarrett Jones, SVP, New Glenn. "But no amount of ground testing or mission simulations are a replacement for flying this rocket. It’s time to fly. No matter what happens, we’ll learn, refine, and apply that knowledge to our next launch."

The primary objective is to achieve a successful orbit, with plans to attempt landing the booster offshore in the Atlantic on the first try.

The Source: This story was written based on information shared by Blue Origin.

SpaceBrevard County