Tag: January 16

SpaceX Starship Rocket Is Lost During 7th Test Launch, Causing Debris to Fall

The New York Times reports, “The seventh test flight of SpaceX’s Starship rocket failed on Thursday as the vehicle’s upper stage experienced a catastrophic malfunction as it headed upward to space. SpaceX was able to achieve some success by repeating the feat of catching the gargantuan Super Heavy booster back at the launchpad.”
Full Story (New York Times – Subscription Publication)

 

 

 

 

 

Video

A SpaceX Starship rocket exploded shortly after launching on its seventh test flight.
(Brut India; YouTube)

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Launches on its Inaugural Flight

Scientific American reports, “A few minutes after 2:00 A.M. EST, a hulking, 320-foot-tall rocket slipped its tethers at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and heaved itself into the sky on a bluish-white pillar of flame, briefly turning night into day along the eastern shore of Florida’s Space Coast. About 8 minutes later, the rocket’s large, first-stage booster failed to stick its landing on a barge in the Atlantic—not exactly the desired outcome, but not unusual for the first attempt to land a booster upright.”
Full Story (Scientific American)
More Info (AIAA Statement)

 

 

 

Video

New Glenn at liftoff during the NG-1 mission, January 16, 2025.  (Launch at 04:00:41 mark)
(NASASpaceflight; YouTube)

AIAA Statement on Blue Origin New Glenn Test Flight

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 16, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement from AIAA CEO Clay Mowry:

“Congratulations to the Blue Origin team! Today’s New Glenn test flight from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station marks a pivotal moment in heavy-lift reusable launch vehicle development. The team has made tremendous technical progress reaching orbit on this first attempt. They will learn a lot from today’s test flight and will be able to apply the lessons learned from the engineering data gathered to advance the development of the New Glenn system.

It’s the most exciting time in aerospace in my 30-year career. We’re experiencing a space renaissance with new launch capabilities enabling new exciting missions. New Glenn is unmatched with its heavy-lift volume in its large payload fairing, enabling freedom of design for satellite operators, customers, and government space agencies.

This is an extraordinary moment as we witness the birth of the reusable launch industry, because reusability is the future of launch. As the newest heavy-lift rocket, New Glenn is introducing competition to the launch market, helping accelerate the growing space economy by reducing costs, expanding access to space, and helping return us to the moon and on to Mars. Through such bold steps, we’ll see a future where living and working in space becomes routine.

As a Corporate Member of AIAA, Blue Origin exemplifies the innovation driving our community forward. We commend New Glenn program leaders Jarrett Jones and Mark Featherstone and the countless industry professionals who have designed, built, and tested this new launch system, which brings us closer to a future of sustained human presence beyond Earth. You are shaping the future of aerospace.”

Media contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org or follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.