New Glenn reached orbit (left), but the starship exploded, showering debris (right).
Blue Origin; SWNS
Compare these two scenes. On January 16, Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket triumphantly entered orbit for the first time, while SpaceX’s Starship burst into flames over the Atlantic Ocean. One might think that Elon Musk’s SpaceX, the established space company, has stalled while Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin has the upper hand. The reality is more complicated, but it’s true that SpaceX’s dominance may be under threat.
The launch of New Glenn comes after decades of development and numerous delays.
