
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
Cyber Monday 2025: Save over 70% on HBO Max with this Prime Video streaming deal - 2
Zelensky confidant dismissed from further posts amid bribery scandal - 3
Israel Police arrest twenty-one as anti-war protests grow despite broad support for Iran war - 4
15 Preposterous Cosplay Ensembles That Will Blow You Away - 5
The most effective method to Amplify Your Opportunity for growth in a Web-based Degree Program
Scientists sent a menstrual cup to space. This is how it went
First Greenland, now Iceland? Annexation joke by Trump ally gets frosty response in the Arctic nation.
The most effective method to Quick Track Your Outcome in Advanced Showcasing with a Web-based Degree
One lightly wounded after Iranian missile barrage targets northern Israel
Artemis 2 astronauts are now headed to the moon. Why has it taken humanity so long to go back?
Scientists find new clues to why female fertility declines with age
RFK Jr. succeeds in changing hepatitis B recommendation | The Excerpt
Finding the Force of Mentorship: Self-awareness Through Direction
Surging measles cases are 'fire alarm' warning that other diseases could be next













