Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket achieves first booster reflight but suffers upper stage failure
By
rbanffy
The bagel they save for the regulars. Don't skim, savour.
Summary
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket successfully completed its first booster reflight on its third launch, marking a significant milestone in reusable rocket technology. However, the mission ended with an upper stage failure, creating a setback for the heavy-lift vehicle that is crucial to NASA's Artemis lunar program. The launch demonstrated progress in rocket reusability but highlighted ongoing technical challenges.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe third flight of Blue Origin's heavy-lift New Glenn launcher began Sunday with the company's first successful reflight of an orbital-class booster, but ended with a setback for Jeff Bezos' flagship rocket, a key element in NASA's Artemis lunar program.
The 321-foot-tall (98-meter) New Glenn launch vehicle ignited its seven methane-fueled BE-4 engines at 7:25 am EDT (11:25 UTC) Sunday, beginning a slow climb from its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
Blue Origin's reused first stage hit its targets, but New Glenn's upper stage did not.
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