New Glenn Rocket Launch Signals Success For Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin

Blue Origin Lifts Off After A Few Delays

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B​lue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket early Thursday morning, marking a major accomplishment for the Jeff Bezos-founded company after multiple delays that included weather issues.

T​he 320-foot rocket lifted off at 2:03 a.m. EST at Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Thirteen minutes later, the rocket achieved the goal of reaching orbit, and as Bezos watched on from Mission Control, company employees cheered and applauded the successful launch.

"​We did it! Orbital," said Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp in a post on X. "Great night for Team Blue."

While the launch did achieve its goal of getting New Glenn into orbit, Blue Origin's attempt to land the first-stage booster on a barge out in the ocean was unsuccessful. But Bezos said it was "a little crazy" to even attempt a booster landing during this launch.

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A​mong those who were quick to congratulate Blue Origin on the successful launch was billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who founded SpaceX, which Bezos said he does not view as a competitor.

"​Congratulations on reaching orbit on the first attempt!" said Musk in a post to X shortly after the launch.

The company said it plans to use New Glenn to take spacecraft into orbit and will later perform crewed missions as well. Several more flights are expected in 2025.