Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin aborts first launch of 320-foot New Glenn Rocket due to 'vehicle subsystem' issue

Developed by Jeff Bezos' aerospace company, New Glenn aims high. (Image: Blue Origin)

Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space company, halted the inaugural launch of its 30-story-tall New Glenn rocket on Monday. The partially reusable rocket, stationed at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, was set to take off at 1 a.m. ET (1130 IST). The vehicle was loaded with methane and liquid oxygen propellants and ready for liftoff.

However, during the countdown, mission teams identified “a few anomalies,” according to a company spokesperson. As the clock ticked closer to the 4 a.m. end of the launch window, Blue Origin decided to abort the mission, citing issues with the rocket’s subsystem.

Were standing down on todays launch attempt to troubleshoot a vehicle subsystem issue that will take us beyond our launch window. Were reviewing opportunities for our next launch attempt.
Blue Origin (@blueorigin) January 13, 2025

Ambitious Goals for the New Glenn Mission
The New Glenn mission marked the culmination of over a decade of development. A key objective was to land the rocket’s first-stage booster on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 10 minutes after liftoff. The rocket’s second stage was intended to continue toward orbit, carrying its payload.

The payload included the prototype of Blue Origin’s Blue Ring vehicle, a manoeuvrable spacecraft designed for national security and satellite servicing missions. Achieving orbit on a maiden flight would have been a significant accomplishment.

Speaking before the launch, Bezos expressed cautious optimism: “The thing we’re most nervous about is the booster landing. On a first flight, anything can happen.”

Competition Heats Up in the Space Industry
New Glenn, more than twice as powerful as SpaceX’s Falcon 9, aims to rival Elon Musk’s industry-dominating rocket. Blue Origin has already secured contracts worth billions for future New Glenn launches.

Despite multiple delays during development, Bezos has accelerated progress since late 2023, naming Amazon veteran Dave Limp as CEO to drive urgency. The effort reflects a desire to compete with SpaceX, whose reusable rockets have become the backbone of commercial spaceflight.

While the delay was a setback, Blue Origin remains determined to position New Glenn as a leader in heavy-lift launches. Bezos summed up his hopes, stating, “Landing the booster would be icing on the cake.”