Blue Origin preparing for second New Glenn launch in late spring

Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, is gearing up for a second launch of its New Glenn mega-rocket in “late spring,” as announced on Monday. After the booster stage failed during its maiden flight in January, the company has identified “seven corrective actions” to address the issue, mainly surrounding improvements in propellant management and engine bleed control. All this information has been submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration for review.

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New Glenn is a significant milestone for Blue Origin as it is the company’s first rocket capable of reaching orbit around Earth. With hopes to venture further into space, demonstrating the rocket’s capabilities and reliability is crucial for Blue Origin to establish itself as a competitor to Elon Musk’s SpaceX, which currently dominates the launch market.

The 320-foot rocket has been in development for years and has faced several delays. Despite these setbacks, Blue Origin successfully tested New Glenn’s second stage in January. However, three of the booster’s engines did not properly re-light during the return to Earth. The company plans to make another attempt at booster landing during New Glenn’s upcoming test flight.

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