Blue Origin finally joins the Space Race

Jeff Bezos must be proud today as New Glenn launched for the first time ever this morning (Jan. 16). It launched off a brand new pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Florida's Space Coast at 2:03 a.m. EST. 

Blue Origin launches its first New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
 on Jan. 16, 2025. (Image credit: Miguel J. Rodríguez Carrillo/Getty Images)

About 12.5 minutes later, the rocket's upper stage reached orbit — the main goal of today's test flight, which the company called NG-1. Unfortunately, the booster, which was expected to return for a landing on a barge, did not return.

See the full details of the launch at Space.com