On top of pad 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station stands a 321-foot-tall rocket set to launch at 1 a.m. EST on Sunday, weather permitting, within a three-hour window. Similar to SpaceX’s Falcon rockets, the New Glenn’s first stage, powered by seven BE-4 engines burning methane and producing a total thrust of 3.8 million pounds, is designed for reusability. After propelling the rocket’s upper stage out of the lower atmosphere 3 minutes and 10 seconds post-launch, the 188-foot-tall first stage will detach and attempt to land on a custom-built ship named after Jeff Bezos’ mother, Jacklyn, stationed downrange in the Atlantic Ocean. Delayed previously due to rough seas, the flight was rescheduled for early Sunday given improved conditions. The entire launch-to-landing process is slated to last 9 minutes and 28 seconds. Unlike SpaceX, which tested its Falcon 9 landing system with ocean splashdowns before attempting an actual landing, Blue Origin is making its landing attempt on the New Glenn’s inaugural flight, humorously naming the booster “So You’re Telling Me There’s A Chance.” While the first stage, measuring 23 feet wide, runs on liquified natural gas, the 88-foot-tall upper stage is equipped with two hydrogen-burning BE-3U engines generating 320,000 pounds of combined thrust. These engines can be reignited up to three times in space, facilitating the placement of payloads in challenging orbits. The New Glenn’s carbon-composite nose fairing, housing payloads during ascent, offers 16,184 cubic feet of volume, capable of accommodating a whole New Shepard rocket used by Blue Origin for sub-orbital space tourism. On its maiden voyage, the New Glenn carried Blue Ring, a spacecraft designed by Blue Origin to act as a space tug for hosting or deploying multiple satellites in various orbits, offering onboard computer support and servicing capabilities. The mission plan outlined the upper stage and Blue Ring test vehicle reaching an elliptical orbit with high and low points at around 12,000 miles and 1,500 miles, respectively, with a total mission duration of five hours and 50 minutes. Blue Ring features roll-out solar arrays spanning 144 feet, 13 ports for payloads, and can accommodate payloads weighing up to 2.5 tons on its upper deck. Although the initial flight lacked payloads, the spacecraft underwent comprehensive in-orbit testing. SpaceX initiated Falcon 9 launches in 2010 and now leads the global commercial launch sector, launching 134 Falcon rockets last year and five in 2025 thus far, recovering boosters successfully 395 times. Alongside, SpaceX is developing the Super Heavy-Starship rocket, with a potential seventh test flight scheduled from Boca Chica, Texas, as early as Monday, with a variant for NASA’s Artemis program transporting astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface.
Nine flights have been conducted, launching a total of 7,700 Starlink internet satellites since 2019, with plans for thousands more in the works. This initiative by SpaceX has positioned the company as a dominant player in the satellite internet market, boasting millions of customers worldwide and establishing a significant lead over potential competitors.
In response to SpaceX’s success, Amazon is gearing up to launch its own fleet of over 3,232 broadband relay stations under Project Kuiper. The tech giant has secured agreements for up to 95 launches with Blue Origin, Arianespace, United Launch Alliance, and even SpaceX itself to deploy these relay stations into orbit.
Amazon’s vision for Project Kuiper is ambitious, aiming to provide internet services to individual households, schools, hospitals, businesses, disaster relief efforts, government agencies, and other organizations operating in areas lacking reliable broadband connectivity. The company envisions a comprehensive network that will cater to a wide range of users across various sectors.
The competition between Amazon and SpaceX in the space-based internet services market is intensifying, with both companies vying for dominance in this rapidly evolving sector. While SpaceX has made significant strides with its Starlink program, Amazon’s Project Kuiper presents a formidable challenge and promises to offer a compelling alternative to potential customers.
A key aspect of Amazon’s strategy is leveraging Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket for launching its satellites and relay stations. Designed with a focus on safety and cost efficiency, the New Glenn rocket is intended to support a range of missions, including crewed spaceflights, satellite launches, and lunar exploration endeavors.
Amazon’s collaboration with Blue Origin signals a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing access to space and enabling a new era of space exploration and commercial activities. With the potential for human-rated missions and an array of payload capabilities, the New Glenn rocket holds promise for revolutionizing the space launch industry.
The competitive landscape in the space sector is evolving rapidly, with companies like SpaceX and Amazon driving innovation and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space technology. As these companies continue to expand their presence and capabilities in space, the prospects for exciting developments and breakthroughs in the industry are on the horizon.
In other news, California authorities have provided updates on the ongoing fires in Los Angeles, announcing school closures as a precautionary measure. Additionally, Hyundai has unveiled a new electric SUV amidst market uncertainties, signaling a shift towards sustainable transportation solutions. False evacuation alerts in Los Angeles have also been reported, underscoring the importance of accurate and reliable communication during emergency situations.
