Maiden Flight

Mission

Maiden Flight on New Glenn. Thu 16 Jan 2025, 07:03 UTC. Reported outcome: Success. Launch site: Launch Complex 36A. Source: Launch Library 2.

Maiden flight of the New Glenn launch vehicle. Will carry the prototype Blue Ring payload tug and payload hoisting platform, consisting of communications array, power systems, and a flight computer affixed to a secondary payload adapter ring, remaining attached to the 2nd stage. This launch will serve as New Glenn's first National Security Space Launch certification flight. Target orbit is 2400 x 19300 km at 30° inclination.

Mission type

Test Flight

Orbit

Medium Earth Orbit

Launch timeline

Times are relative to liftoff.

1. T-4 h 30 minThu 16 Jan, 03:33 CET

   Stage 2 LH2 Load

   Start of liquid hydrogen loading in the second stage

2. T-4 hThu 16 Jan, 04:03 CET

   Stage 2 LOX Load

   Start of liquid oxygen loading in the second stage

3. T-4 hThu 16 Jan, 04:03 CET

   Stage 1 LOX Load

   Start of liquid oxygen loading in the first stage

4. T-3 h 30 minThu 16 Jan, 04:33 CET

   Stage 1 LNG Load

   Start of liquid methane loading in the first stage

5. T-1 hThu 16 Jan, 07:03 CET

   Prop Load Complete

   End of propellant loading

6. T-1 hThu 16 Jan, 07:03 CET

   Webcast live

   Start of the launch broadcast

7. T-20 minThu 16 Jan, 07:43 CET

   Weather Check

   Check of the weather conditions for launch

8. T-10 minThu 16 Jan, 07:53 CET

   Ready Poll

   Polling ready ahead of terminal count

9. T-4 minThu 16 Jan, 07:59 CET

   Terminal Count

   Start of the terminal countdown towards launch

10. T-2 min 30 sThu 16 Jan, 08:00 CET

    Tank Press

    Fuel tanks are pressurized to flight levels

11. T-1 min 30 sThu 16 Jan, 08:01 CET

    Internal Power

    Launch vehicle switches to internal power sources

12. T-20 sThu 16 Jan, 08:02 CET

    Water Deluge

    Water deluge systems turn on

13. T-20 sThu 16 Jan, 08:02 CET

    Startup

    The onboard computer takes control over the countdown and runs last checks

14. T-5.6 sThu 16 Jan, 08:02 CET

    Ignition

    Start of the engine ignition sequence

15. T-0Thu 16 Jan, 08:03 CET

    Liftoff

    First upwards movement of the rocket

16. T+1 min 39 sThu 16 Jan, 08:04 CET

    Max-Q

    Maximum dynamic pressure

17. T+3 min 10 sThu 16 Jan, 08:06 CET

    MECO

    Cut-off of the main engine

18. T+3 min 12 sThu 16 Jan, 08:06 CET

    Stage 2 Separation

    Separation of the second stage from the first

19. T+3 min 23 sThu 16 Jan, 08:06 CET

    SES-1

    First start of the second engine

20. T+3 min 46 sThu 16 Jan, 08:06 CET

    Kármán Line

    The vehicle crosses the Kármán Line (100 km altitude)

21. T+3 min 49 sThu 16 Jan, 08:06 CET

    Fairing Separation

    Separation of the payload fairing

22. T+7 min 17 sThu 16 Jan, 08:10 CET

    Entry Burn Startup

    Start of the atmospheric entry burn

23. T+7 min 45 sThu 16 Jan, 08:10 CET

    Entry Burn Shutdown

    End of the atmospheric entry burn

24. T+8 min 52 sThu 16 Jan, 08:11 CET

    Stage 1 Landing Burn

    Start of the first stage landing burn

25. T+9 min 28 sThu 16 Jan, 08:12 CET

    Stage 1 Landing

    Landing of the first stage

26. T+12 min 51 sThu 16 Jan, 08:15 CET

    SECO-1

    First cut-off of the second engine

27. T+13 min 51 sThu 16 Jan, 08:16 CET

    Payload Power On

    Startup of the payload

28. T+57 min 42 sThu 16 Jan, 09:00 CET

    SES-2

    Second start of the second engine

29. T+58 min 58 sThu 16 Jan, 09:01 CET

    SECO-2

    Second cut-off of the second engine

30. T+1 h 59 min 18 sThu 16 Jan, 10:02 CET

    Stage 2 Orientation Maneuver

    Stage 2 maneuver to change its attitude

31. T+5 h 50 min 58 sThu 16 Jan, 13:53 CET

    Mission End

    End of the launch vehicle's mission

Slip history

Changes recorded by Space Right Now

No changes since we started tracking on Sat 10 Oct 2026, 11:14 UTC.

Launch pad

Launch Complex 36A

Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (US)

Coordinates: 28.4705556, -80.542194