Blue Origin’s highly anticipated launch of its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket has been delayed. Initially set for January 13, 2025, the liftoff from Florida’s Space Coast was halted due to a technical issue related to an auxiliary power unit. The company announced the postponement at approximately 3:10 a.m. EST, stating, “We’re standing down on today’s launch attempt to troubleshoot a vehicle subsystem issue that will take us beyond our launch window.”
The specific cause of the scrub was later revealed to be the formation of ice in a purge line associated with the rocket’s hydraulic systems. Blue Origin initially rescheduled the launch for January 14, but that was subsequently pushed back to January 16, maintaining the same launch window of 1 a.m. EST to 4 a.m. EST.
This delay marks another setback for the New Glenn rocket, which stands at 320 feet tall and is designed with a reusable first stage. The rocket has been under development for nearly a decade. Blue Origin’s first launch attempt was previously postponed due to unfavorable sea conditions, which would affect the landing of the rocket’s first stage on a ship named Jacklyn, after Jeff Bezos’ mother.
Despite the delays, there is optimism surrounding the New Glenn rocket as it aims to carry a pathfinder version of Blue Ring, a platform that represents the company’s future in space travel. As Blue Origin addresses the technical issues, the upcoming days hold the promise of a successful launch, reflecting the resilience and innovation that characterize the aerospace industry.
In summary, while the launch of New Glenn faces delays, Blue Origin remains dedicated to troubleshooting the issues and is looking ahead to a hopeful launch window on January 16.