The powerful two-stage rocket, measuring 32 stories tall, was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This was Blue Origin’s first mission since New Glenn’s first test launch on January 16.
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A live webcast from Blue Origin showed the rocket shooting up from the launch tower in a cloud of flame and vapor shortly after its seven BE-4 engines roared to life, devouring more than 3,000 pounds (1,270 kg) of liquid fuel per second.
The launch followed several days of delays due to cloudy skies and a geomagnetic storm.
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If all goes according to plan, New Glenn’s reusable first stage will detach from the rocket’s upper stage minutes after launch for a return flight to Earth and an attempted landing on a pontoon in the Atlantic Ocean while the upper stage rockets higher. The reentry maneuver failed in January due to engine failure.