Blue Origin New Glenn Landing: Watch the Epic Video

Blue Origin Achieves Historic Rocket Landing, Boosting Reusability Efforts

A accomplished landing of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket first stage on Thursday, November 13, marks a pivotal moment in the commercial space race, demonstrating a significant leap forward in reusable rocket technology and delivering NASA’s ESCAPADE Mars probes to their destination. The achievement places Blue Origin alongside SpaceX as only the second company to successfully recover a large orbital rocket booster.

New Glenn’s Second Launch a Resounding Success

The New Glenn rocket launched from Florida’s Space Coast on Thursday afternoon, successfully deploying NASA’s twin ESCAPADE (Enhanced small Satellite Advanced Payload Experiment) Mars probes. But the mission’s success extended beyond payload delivery. The massive, two-stage rocket’s first stage executed a controlled return to Earth, landing precisely on “Jacklyn,” Blue Origin’s dedicated drone ship positioned approximately 375 miles (604 kilometers) offshore.

Did you know? – Reusable rockets significantly lower the cost of space travel by eliminating the need to build a new rocket for each launch. This is crucial for making space more accessible.

Pioneering Reusability: A Nod to SpaceX

prior to this mission, SpaceX was the sole pioneer in the challenging field of orbital rocket recovery and reuse.This accomplishment underscores the growing importance of reusable launch systems in reducing the cost of space access. Blue Origin founder jeff Bezos celebrated the landing on X, sharing videos of the 188-foot-tall (57 meters) booster’s controlled descent.

https://twitter.com/jeffbezos/status/1724299999999999999

Bezos explained in a post on Friday, November 14, that the booster intentionally touched down a few hundred feet from the drone ship as a safety measure. “We nominally target a few hundred feet away from Jacklyn to avoid a severe impact if engines fail to start or start slowly,” he wrote. “We’ll incrementally reduce that conservatism over time.” The company’s motto, “Gradatim Ferociter” – Latin for “Step by Step, Ferociously” – encapsulates this methodical approach to innovation.

Pro tip: – Inspecting recovered boosters is vital. Engineers meticulously examine components for wear and tear, making repairs or replacements to ensure flight readiness.

“Never Tell Me the Odds” Aces the Landing

Blue Origin christened the first stage booster that flew on Thursday “Never Tell Me the Odds,” a playful reference to the perceived difficulty of achieving a successful landing on only the second attempt. According to a company statement, Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp declared, “It turns out ‘Never Tell Me The Odds’ had perfect odds – never before in history has a booster this large nailed the landing on the second try.”

This success signals a rapid expansion of Blue Origin’s launch capabilities and it’s commitment to serving its customers. The company anticipates each new Glenn first stage will be capable of at least 25 flights. Post-landing images reveal “Never Tell Me the odds” to be in remarkably pristine condition, suggesting a swift return to service.

Reader question: – What other innovations do you think are necessary to further reduce the cost of space travel? Share your thoughts!

.

The successful landing of “Ne