Blue Origin’s ambition to launch its New Glenn rocket encountered another setback, as technical problems prevented the inaugural liftoff from Florida’s Space Coast on January 13, 2025. The company, founded by Jeff Bezos, had scheduled the launch during a three-hour window starting at 1 a.m. EST, but delays and troubleshooting led them to ultimately cancel the attempt by approximately 3:10 a.m. EST.
In a communication on X, Blue Origin explained, “We’re standing down on today’s launch attempt to troubleshoot a vehicle subsystem issue that will take us beyond our launch window.” Although the specific subsystem issue was not disclosed initially, further updates identified the culprit as ice formation in a purge line related to an auxiliary power unit that manages several hydraulic systems.
After this clarification, Blue Origin adjusted their launch targets, originally pushing a new date to January 14, before postponing it again to January 16, maintaining the same morning launch window.
This will not be the first delay for the New Glenn, a 320-foot-tall rocket designed with a reusable first stage. Initially slated for a January 10 launch, the mission, dubbed NG-1, was postponed due to unfavorable sea conditions in the Atlantic for the recovery of the rocket’s first stage on a ship named Jacklyn, named after Bezos’ mother.
Blue Origin remains focused on this critical test flight, which is set to deploy a pathfinder version of the Blue Ring spacecraft platform. Having spent nearly a decade in development, New Glenn represents Blue Origin’s first foray into orbital-class rockets. The company has already established its presence in suborbital spaceflight through its New Shepard vehicle, which has successfully transported people and cargo on short journeys.
In summary, despite the postponements, Blue Origin’s commitment to refining the New Glenn and progressing toward its first orbital mission positions the company for future growth in the competitive space exploration sector. With the next launch window now approaching, there is optimism that the team will resolve the issues promptly and demonstrate the capabilities of New Glenn.