REPLAY: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket set for inaugural launch

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is scheduled for its inaugural launch early Thursday morning from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The primary objective is to achieve a safe orbital flight, with an additional attempt to safely land the booster.

Weather conditions are being closely monitored to determine if the launch can proceed as planned. The rocket is set to lift off from Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The payload, the Blue Ring Pathfinder, will make its debut on this mission, marking the rocket’s first National Security Space Launch certification flight, according to Blue Origin. The encapsulated payload will be integrated onto the launch vehicle after the hotfire test. The pathfinder will remain onboard New Glenn’s second stage for the entirety of the expected six-hour mission.

The pathfinder will test Blue Ring’s core flight, ground systems, and operational capabilities. The mission, designated NG-1, supports the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Orbital Logistics prototype program, with DIU funding aimed at enabling future Department of Defense missions.

The pathfinder demonstrator includes a communications array, power systems, and a flight computer affixed to a secondary payload adapter ring. It will validate Blue Ring’s communication capabilities between orbit and ground stations.

The mission will also test its in-space telemetry, tracking and command hardware, as well as ground-based radiometric tracking systems, which will be used in future Blue Ring production space vehicles.

New Glenn, the rocket launching this mission, stands more than 320 feet (98 meters) tall and features a seven-meter payload fairing. Its reusable first stage is designed for 25 missions and is powered by seven of Blue Origin’s BE-4 engines.