
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
Blue Origin's powerful New Glenn rocket had a very big day on Thursday (Nov. 13), and a new video lets us all relive part of it.
New Glenn launched for the second time ever on Thursday afternoon, successfully sending NASA's twin ESCAPADE Mars probes into the final frontier from Florida's Space Coast.
But that wasn't all. The two-stage rocket's huge first stage came back to Earth as planned, acing a landing on "Jacklyn," Blue Origin's drone ship, which was stationed about 375 miles (604 kilometers) offshore.
Previously, only one company had ever pulled off this dramatic maneuver — SpaceX, which has pioneered the recovery and reuse of orbital rockets.
Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos celebrated the New Glenn landing on X, posting several videos of the 188-foot-tall (57 meters) booster steering its way through the sky toward Jacklyn.
One video showed the landing itself, during which the booster sidled over to Jacklyn rather than drop directly onto it from above.
"We nominally target a few hundred feet away from Jacklyn to avoid a severe impact if engines fail to start or start slowly," Bezos wrote in the Friday morning (Nov. 14) X post that featured this video. "We’ll incrementally reduce that conservatism over time. We are all excited and grateful for yesterday. Amazing performance by the team! Gradatim Ferociter."
(Gradatim Ferociter, Latin for "Step by Step, Ferociously," is Blue Origin's motto.)
Blue Origin named the first stage that flew on Thursday "Never Tell Me the Odds," a nod to the perceived improbability of a successful touchdown.
"It turns out 'Never Tell Me The Odds' had perfect odds — never before in history has a booster this large nailed the landing on the second try," Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said in a company statement. "This is just the beginning as we rapidly scale our flight cadence and continue delivering for our customers."
Each New Glenn first stage is designed to fly at least 25 times, according to Blue Origin. "Never Tell Me the Odds" looks intact — startlingly clean, in fact — in post-landing photos, so don't be surprised to see the booster on the pad again before too much longer.
latest_posts
- 1
The Most Important Crossroads in Olympic History - 2
Marvel's X-Men are joining the battle in 'Avengers: Doomsday': Watch the teaser - 3
This Unique National Park In Canada Is Famous For Its Otherworldly Limestone Monoliths - 4
41 Young Men Die in South Africa After Circumcision Initiation - 5
Doctors looking into hormone therapy as a way to ward off dementia in women
Artemis II astronauts make long-distance call to the space station as they head home from the moon
These men carry towers of birds through Mexico's streets. They say their tradition is dying out.
Israel approves death penalty law for Palestinians convicted of attacks
Figure out How to Protect Your Gold Venture from Unpredictability
Flu cases spiking this holiday season, CDC data shows
‘Extraordinary’ Iron Age war trumpet uncovered in England
Hamas urges Hezbollah to kidnap Israeli soldiers in wake of Knesset passing death penalty bill
Ukrainian man arrested in Germany on suspicion of spying for Russia
CRP Subsea secures contract for Vattenfall’s Nordlicht I cable systems













