Bezos' Blue Origin successfully launches its maiden New Glenn rocket

ISTANBUL

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin achieved a major milestone in the satellite launch industry early Thursday morning with the successful maiden flight of its New Glenn rocket, named after astronaut John Glenn, from Florida.

Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp wrote on X: “We did it! Orbital. Great night for Team Blue. On to spring and trying again on the landing.”

“New Glenn has passed the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space!” the company announced its successful liftoff on X.

This eagerly awaited flight marks the company's first step in challenging SpaceX's dominance in the space industry.

“Second stage engine cutoff confirmed. New Glenn’s second stage and payload are now in orbit. Another burn coming up,” it added.

The second stage, which is the upper part of the rocket, takes over after the first stage separates, continuing the journey into space.

The 30-story New Glenn rocket, equipped with a reusable first stage, lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station shortly after 1:35 a.m. ET, following several delays earlier in the week.

Bezos' ambition to compete with American business magnate Elon Musk, who founded SpaceX, in exploring the high frontier relies heavily on reusable technology.

A reusable first stage is the rocket's lower section, which houses the fuel tanks and provides the initial thrust to propel it into the sky. Unlike traditional rockets, it is designed to safely return to Earth for reuse.