Space X’s Starship (L) and Blue Origin’s New Glenn (R) both had success full launches but faced challenges during Thursday’s flight tests. Images: Richard P Gallagher-FMN / Blue Origin
January 16th proved to be an emotional roller coaster for private space exploration. Both Blue Origin and SpaceX achieved notable successes tempered by huge challenges during their respective rocket launches from Florida and Texas.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn
Blue Origin celebrated a major achievement as its New Glenn rocket, named after the pioneering astronaut John Glenn, successfully reached orbit for the first time. Launched from Launch Complex 36 at 2:03am EST from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the mission was Blue Origin’s first to orbit, a critical step in its competition with industry leader SpaceX.
“We hit our key, critical, number-one objective, we got to orbit safely,” announced Blue Origin VP Ariane Cornell during a company livestream, signifying the mission’s primary goal had been met. However, the joy was somewhat muted as the booster, named “So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance,” failed to land on the recovery vessel “Jacklyn” in the Atlantic Ocean. “We may very well have lost the booster,” a company commentator acknowledged as telemetry and video froze during the descent. Despite this setback, CEO Dave Limp emphasized learning from the anomalies, stating, “We knew landing our booster … on the first try was an ambitious goal. We’ll learn a lot from today and try again at our next launch this spring.”
The launch represents Blue Origin’s entry into the orbital launch market, which could disrupt the current dynamics dominated by SpaceX, especially with Blue Origin’s plans for the Blue Ring spacecraft and national security missions.
SpaceX’s Starship Flight 7
Meanwhile, in Boca Chica, Texas, SpaceX conducted the seventh test flight of its Starship, a rocket aimed at interplanetary travel. The test was a blend of triumph and trial; the Super Heavy booster was successfully caught by the “chopsticks” of the launch tower, a remarkable achievement in SpaceX’s reusable rocket technology. The catch brings SpaceX to a 2-1 record on catch attempts following an aborted attempt during IFT-6.
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Elon Musk, commenting on the test, highlighted its importance, “Each Starship launch brings humanity closer to Mars,” reflecting the ongoing excitement and anticipation around these developments. However, the success of the booster landing was overshadowed by the loss of the Starship spacecraft itself, which lost communication over the Gulf of Mexico and disintegrated over the Turks and Caicos islands. Investigations are underway. The FAA diverted air traffic from the area for a short time following the mishap. Industry experts believe the breakup will likely trigger another FAA safety investigation, potentially delaying future launches.
Looking Forward
Both events served as stark reminders of the challenges in space technology, with each company pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Despite the booster’s failure, Blue Origin’s successful orbit with New Glenn has opened new avenues for future missions, including NASA’s ESCAPADE to Mars and Amazon’s Kuiper constellation. SpaceX’s partial success with Starship Flight 7 provides valuable data for reusability, vital for their mission to significantly reduce space travel costs.
As the space race among private companies accelerates, today’s launches from Florida and Texas have not only showcased technological prowess but also the inherent risks and learning opportunities that come with pioneering space travel.
