Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Hits Miserable Milestone, But Don’t Expect a Breakthrough
In a lackluster development, Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket successfully completed its first second-stage hot fire test, validating the interactions between its various subsystems, engines, and ground control systems. But let’s be real, this is a significant milestone only for those with a passion for rocket science.
The 15-second test, which allowed the launch operations team to practice launch procedures, is just a minor stepping stone in the rocket’s journey. And speaking of journeys, New Glenn’s launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, is still set for this November, a date that feels like an eternity away.
But let’s not forget, New Glenn is a direct challenge to SpaceX, the only company that’s actually done something significant in space lately. While Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin has been touting its tourist flights to suborbital space, SpaceX has been changing the game with its numerous successful launches and deployments. And let’s not forget the embarrassing delays and setbacks that have plagued New Glenn’s development.
So, what’s the point of this test? Is it a desperate attempt to grab some attention in a space dominated by Elon Musk and SpaceX? It seems that way. After all, New Glenn was supposed to launch the ESCAPADE mission for NASA earlier this year, but it got canceled. And now, its first mission, NG-1, will simply carry Blue Origin’s own Blue Ring orbital platform into space. Talk about underwhelming.
Will this milestone finally propel New Glenn into relevance? Probably not. For now, it’s just another incremental step in the rocket’s long journey to nowhere.
