Blue Origin Proves Reusability but Satellite Off-Course... 'Challenges' Remain

Blue Origin, which is competing with SpaceX in the space industry, succeeded in landing its reusable booster, but failed to deliver its onboard satellite into the correct orbit.

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is launching on the 19th (local time) from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Photo by AP Yonhap News

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According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and CBS News on the 19th (local time), Blue Origin's 'New Glenn' rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida and landed on an Atlantic platform. This was the third flight for New Glenn.

The booster used in this launch was reused from the 'NG-2' mission, which took place in November last year. Unlike previous missions that used new boosters, this marks the first time Blue Origin has successfully completed a mission from launch to recovery using a reusable booster. In the aerospace industry, where costs are astronomical, reusing boosters can significantly reduce launch expenses.

The initial phase of the mission proceeded smoothly, but a problem arose during the subsequent operations. The AST SpaceMobile 'BlueBird-7' satellite, which was carried aboard the New Glenn rocket, entered an incorrect orbit and was unable to establish communications. The satellite was deployed outside the normal orbital range, and the exact cause is under investigation. The satellite is expected to be removed at a later date.

This launch was an important test for Blue Origin as it seeks to expand its presence in the commercial launch market. Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, said in an interview before the launch that the company is aiming for 8 to 12 launches this year, adding, "We have all the necessary equipment to achieve this."

Blue Origin, led by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, succeeded in recovering the first-stage rocket during the second New Glenn launch in November last year. According to Fortune, this is considered a crucial step toward component reuse. Currently, SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is the only company to have successfully achieved vertical landing after an orbital launch.

CBS reported that Blue Origin's plans for an uncrewed lunar lander test launch and Amazon's low Earth orbit satellite launches later this year are likely to be influenced by the results of the investigation into the issue that occurred during this launch.

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