The world was thrilled when billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos declared he would be launching the world’s first commercial spaceflight aboard the Blue Origin rocket. However, his plans were recently delayed after a rocket test resulted in the rocket crashing during liftoff. So what’s the deal with Bezos’s grounded rocket?
In April of 2019, Bezos predicted that he and his brother, Mark, would be aboard a commercial flight by July of this year. Unfortunately, an issue occurred during a qualification test of the Blue Origin rocket – a reusable, vertical-takeoff-vertical-landing vehicle that Bezos has been working on for nearly two decades. During the test, the rocket failed to achieve the necessary altitude and speed and was forced to ground shortly after launch, crashing into the Atlantic ocean.
Though the setback is certainly a disappointment, Bezos still remains optimistic. In a statement released following the crash, he expressed gratitude for the tests, noting that “test flights often don’t go as expected, but this is why we test.” He also expressed his faith in the safety and reliability of the Blue Origin systems, a sentiment that has been echoed by other leaders in the aerospace community.
While Blue Origin has yet to specify a new timeline for spaceflight, they have made it clear that they continue to have full confidence in the safety and performance of the rocket. Their engineers are working quickly on further improvements to ensure that the rocket is operationally perfect before any future launches take place. In addition, the company is planning to continue to put its advancements in the technology to use here on Earth, with projects such as a space-based internet service and satellite launches.
Though many of Bezos’s spaceflight ambitions may still be delayed, he’s sending a message that dreams are still achievable and that setbacks can be overcome. We’ll be watching with bated breath to see what comes of this setback and will keep an even closer eye on the launch of the Blue Origin rocket into space.
