SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virigin Galactic and other Private Space Companies Thread

[GtHawk]

Blue Origin Says Something Weird Happened to New Glenn JUST Before LAUNCH! When New Date?

SpaceX Community   
 
Jan 10, 2025  #starshiplaunch #starship #ift6

Today, Blue Origin announced the postponement of its highly anticipated first launch of the New Glenn rocket. Originally slated for 1:00 A.M. EST on Friday, January 10, the launch was rescheduled to Sunday, January 12, at the same time due to adverse weather conditions in the Atlantic Ocean where the rocket's booster was intended to land.

This mission marks the debut of Blue Origin's ambitions to challenge the likes of SpaceX in the reusable rocket domain. The delay underscores the critical nature of the booster's recovery, a testament to the company's commitment to reusability, which is central to reducing the cost of space travel and missions.

The decision to delay was prompted by what Blue Origin described as a "high sea state" in the Atlantic, where the first stage of New Glenn was to be recovered on a barge named Jacklyn, after Jeff Bezos' mother. The company's statement on the social media platform X highlighted the ambitious nature of their recovery plan, noting, "We know landing the booster on our first try offshore in the Atlantic is ambitious — but we’re going for it."

You know, I saw some of you commenting two days ago that Blue Origin would scrub the New Glenn launch on the actual day—and yes, they turned out to be right! While it’s true that New Glenn is behind schedule, let’s try to stay positive and support Blue Origin during this critical time. They're really optimistic about this rocket, aiming for reusability on a scale that could genuinely contribute to the already growing space sector.
Also, some folks did ask, why they can't launch like SpaceX's Starship test flights? Well, what you all have to understand is that SpaceX and Blue Origin operate with two very different philosophies. One, SpaceX, is like the "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" type of strategy, with Elon Musk famously saying, "Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough." They've got this 'hardware-rich' approach where they can afford to learn from failures in real-time because they've got a series of hardware ready to go up next.
On the other hand, Blue Origin, takes a more measured, 'slow and steady wins the race' approach. They're more about ensuring each piece of tech is as close to perfect as possible before launch. It's not about how fast you can get something off the ground but how reliably you can do it over and over again. Yes, it might mean they're not churning out launches like SpaceX, but when they do get it right, it could mean less risk, more efficiency, and potentially, a game-changer in terms of cost-effectiveness!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmP5Dhzll-8

Also Bezos just has the one rocket.

[Elderberry]

Also Bezos just has the one rocket.

He also has the New Shepard, a passenger carrying sounding rocket.

[GtHawk]

He also has the New Shepard, a passenger carrying sounding rocket.

Oh, I should have been clearer, he only has one rocket truly cabable of reaching ‘outer’ space.

[Elderberry]

https://twitter.com/spacesudoer/status/1879149974149374295

[Elderberry]

FAA requires mishap investigation for failed New Glenn landing

Space News by Jeff Foust January 18, 2025

While Blue Origin considers the first flight of its New Glenn rocket a success, the company will have to complete a mishap investigation before its next launch.

New Glenn lifted off on its inaugural launch, called NG-1, Jan. 16 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The second stage reached orbit, although the first stage failed to make a landing on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean as planned.

The payload for the NG-1 mission was Blue Ring Pathfinder, a technology demonstrator for the company’s planned Blue Ring orbital transfer vehicle. The payload remained attached to the upper stage, testing communications, power and other systems.

The company says those tests were successful. “Our Blue Ring Pathfinder hit all our mission objectives within the planned six-hour journey after being inserted into the desired orbit by New Glenn with an apogee of 19,300 km and a perigee of 2,400 km at a 30-degree inclination,” Dave Limp, Blue Origin’s chief executive, said in a social media post Jan. 17.

Limp added that the upper stage “nailed insertion with a less than 1% deviation from our exact orbital injection target.” Data from the U.S. Space Force’s Space-Track.org service show the upper stage in an orbit of 2,426 by 19,251 kilometers at an inclination of 29.99 degrees.

More: https://spacenews.com/faa-requires-mishap-investigation-for-failed-new-glenn-landing/

[Elderberry]

Watch live: Atlas 5 rocket launches 27 Kuiper satellites for Amazon’s Starlink rival


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcd27_0t8BQ

[Elderberry]

Scrubbed due to weather.

[Elderberry]

ULA plans Amazon Project Kuiper’s launch on Monday

SatNews 4/10/2025

The next date for ULA’s launch of Project Kuiper now is scheduled for Monday, April 14 from 4:00 PM to 8:34 PM ET. Liftoff of the Kuiper 1 mission will occur from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

Project Kuiper’s satellite payload will be the heaviest payload ULA’s Atlas V rocket has ever flown. To accommodate it, ULA will be flying Atlas V in its most powerful configuration. The launch will cost $153 million

Project Kuiper is a mega constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit that will offer broadband internet access, this constellation will be managed by Kuiper Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon. This constellation is planned to be composed of 3,276 satellites. The satellites are projected to be placed in 98 orbital planes in three orbital layers, one at 590 km, 610 km and 630 km altitude.

The Atlas V 551, manufactured by United Launch Alliance established in 2006, undertook its inaugural launch on 01/19/2006, is non-reusable and is active.

More: https://news.satnews.com/2025/04/10/ula-plans-amazon-project-kuipers-launch-on-monday/

[Elderberry]

Amazon’s Kuiper satellite launch delay highlights uphill battle against Musk’s Starlink

Natural News by Cassie B  04/12/2025

•  Jeff Bezos’ Amazon Project Kuiper satellite launch was delayed due to bad weather, highlighting its struggle to compete with SpaceX’s rapid Starlink expansion.

•  SpaceX dominates the satellite internet race with over 8,000 satellites already in orbit and 5M global customers, while Amazon lags with zero operational satellites.
 
•  The delay intensifies scrutiny over whether Amazon’s Kuiper offers real innovation or just aims
to counter Elon Musk’s dominance in low-Earth orbit.

•  Starlink’s strategic role in Ukraine’s war effort underscores the national security importance of satellite communications, raising concerns over reliance on a single provider.

•  Amazon has secured 77 future launches but faces skepticism about its ability to catch up as SpaceX keeps accelerating with cost-effective, reusable rockets.

More: https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-04-12-amazon-satellite-launch-delay-highlights-battle-starlink.html

[Wingnut]

Amazon’s Kuiper satellite launch delay highlights uphill battle against Musk’s Starlink

Natural News by Cassie B  04/12/2025

•  Jeff Bezos’ Amazon Project Kuiper satellite launch was delayed due to bad weather, highlighting its struggle to compete with SpaceX’s rapid Starlink expansion.

•  SpaceX dominates the satellite internet race with over 8,000 satellites already in orbit and 5M global customers, while Amazon lags with zero operational satellites.
 
•  The delay intensifies scrutiny over whether Amazon’s Kuiper offers real innovation or just aims
to counter Elon Musk’s dominance in low-Earth orbit.

•  Starlink’s strategic role in Ukraine’s war effort underscores the national security importance of satellite communications, raising concerns over reliance on a single provider.

•  Amazon has secured 77 future launches but faces skepticism about its ability to catch up as SpaceX keeps accelerating with cost-effective, reusable rockets.

More: https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-04-12-amazon-satellite-launch-delay-highlights-battle-starlink.html

Try to get that many women to show up on time, in make-up... not surprised there was a delay.

[GtHawk]

Try to get that many women to show up on time, in make-up... not surprised there was a delay.

I wonder which of them was the first to ask “does this space suit make me look fat?”

[catfish1957]

Gayle King's schtick was just a photo op to bolster her awful ratings of a rat turd of a woke show.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Cool to have this sort of competition in space of all things though.

[Elderberry]

Amazon having issues boosting Project Kuiper satellite production: report

Seeking Alpha By: Chris Ciaccia 4/23/25

Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) is having issues increasing the production of its Project Kuiper satellites, Bloomberg reported.

Only a few dozen satellites have been completed so far, the news outlet added, citing three people familiar with the situation. Initial production of the satellites — which will be used for a satellite internet service that competes with SpaceX (SPACE) Starlink — was delayed until the fourth quarter of 2024, with beta testing occurring earlier this year.

Project Kuiper aims to provide broadband connectivity to the 400-500M households that don't currently have it, as well as providing better connectivity in remote areas.

Given the slow pace of the satellite production, along with rocket launch delays, it's likely that Amazon will have to ask for an extension from the Federal Communications Commission, the people added.

More: https://seekingalpha.com/news/4433901-amazon-having-issues-boosting-project-kuiper-satellite-production-report