Jeff Bezos’ revolutionary new rocket, towering above the Statue of Liberty, has officially been launched into the cosmos.

The massive 320-foot **New Glenn rocket**, named to honor legendary U.S. astronaut John Glenn, achieved its first flight on January 16, 2025. The liftoff occurred shortly after 2 a.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Created by Bezos’ firm, Blue Origin, the rocket has a reusable first stage driven by seven robust engines, representing a major achievement in the fast-paced and competitive rocket industry.

This launch has been eagerly awaited, with the rocket undergoing development for more than a decade. The excitement surrounding this occasion was extraordinary.

*”We did it! Orbital. Great night for Team Blue,”* Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp rejoiced in a social media post following the successful launch.

### Aiming for Reusability
Limp also alluded to the company’s upcoming significant challenge: successfully landing the rocket’s first stage. The initial attempt to recover the booster on the droneship *Jacklyn* in the Atlantic Ocean was ambitious but ultimately did not succeed. Nonetheless, this is a notoriously challenging task—SpaceX, a major contender, needed multiple attempts before mastering booster recovery.

*”On to spring and trying again on the landing,”* Limp remarked, emphasizing the company’s dedication to refining this vital component of reusable rocket technology.

### A Giant Leaps Into Orbit
The New Glenn rocket, one of the largest ever built, is engineered to transport heavy payloads into Earth’s orbit. Here’s a glimpse of the rocket’s breathtaking launch:

*(Embedded tweets were originally included but have since been deleted.)*

### Looking Ahead
Blue Origin has bold aspirations for the future. By 2026, the company intends to increase its launch frequency to as many as two launches per month. Its rocket manufacturing facility, situated just nine miles from the launch site, is strategically located to facilitate quick refurbishment and delivery of rockets to the nearby Space Force base.

With its successful debut, New Glenn is set to directly compete with SpaceX’s heavy-lift rockets, which have long held a dominant position in the field. This signifies a new chapter in the ongoing competition between the two space exploration heavyweights, as Blue Origin aims to establish its footprint in the swiftly growing commercial space industry.