Live updates from the New Glenn maiden launch on the Cape

On January 16, 2025By Littum

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Will Blue Origin launch its first-ever New Glenn heavy-lift rocket overnight — or is another late-night scrub in store for onlookers across Florida’s Space Coast?

Welcome to the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team’s live coverage of Blue Origin’s latest New Glenn maiden launch attempt from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Blue Origin is now targeting 2:03am EST for liftoff. Today’s early morning three-hour launch window opened at 1 and lasts until 4 from Launch Complex 36.

The Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron lowered the odds of “go for launch” weather from 60% to 40%, with thick cloud layers posing a threat. The squadron also noted a moderate risk of poor offshore booster landing weather in the Atlantic Ocean, where seas built up to 7 feet.

The New Glenn is a mighty 321-foot-tall two-stage rocket. After stage separation, the first stage booster will descend and land hundreds of miles at sea atop Blue Origin’s drone ship Jacklyn, named after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ mother.

Update 01:49: According to a Blue Origin NG-1 mission milestone schedule, expect launch officials to conduct an important “go-poll” 10 minutes before launch to determine whether to continue.

Update 01:40: FLORIDA TODAY Field reporter Brooke Edwards took this photo of Cape Canaveral spectators in folding chairs waiting to be lifted off the sand.

Update 01:31: The new start time is 02:03

Update 01:29: After holding the countdown to 11 minutes, 3 seconds, Blue Origin officials announced just why: a wayward boat downrange.

Update 01:22: FLORIDA TODAY Photographer/videographer Craig Bailey took this photo of the New Glenn rocket awaiting liftoff at Launch Complex 36.

Update 01:15: It is confirmed – the new meal is 1:35 and “the weather is green.”

Update 01:10: Blue Origin crews have resumed the countdown, and it appears that the target for launch is around 01:35. No official announcement yet.

Update at 1:00 a.m.: Propelled by liquid oxygen and liquid natural gas, seven BE-4 engines will power the 188-foot New Glenn booster — named So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance in light of its upcoming drone ship landing attempts.

Update 12:49: According to a Blue Origin tweet: “We’re going into a team with the countdown clock at T-20 minutes for BE-4 to relax. New T-0 is on the way.”

Update 12:40: The countdown just went into “hold,” according to Blue Origin’s webcast. No details have been released so far.

Update 12:30: More information from the 45th Weather Squadron weather forecast, which also detailed Friday’s backup window. The chance of favorable weather was 90% during the backup window, which extends from 01.00 to 04.00 Friday.

“A developing area of low pressure located across the western Gulf of Mexico will bring rising clouds to central Florida … with upstream observations and model guidance suggesting a higher risk of thick cloud layer concerns …” the squadron’s forecast said.

“This plume of mid-level moisture is expected to be removed from the parent low and thin Thursday evening as surface high pressure builds southward into Florida, providing improved forecasts for the possibility of backup launch,” the forecast reads.

“For booster recovery conditions, seas will build into the 6-7 foot range for the primary window, with similar to slightly lower seas for Friday morning. Winds will be acceptable for landing on both primary and backup landing options, although a an increase in wind is expected for the backup day,” reads the forecast.

Update 12:14: In a change from Monday, Blue Origin’s live webcast will now begin 20 minutes before kickoff, instead of one hour. We’ve posted the webcast link above, so stay tuned.

The New Glenn countdown clock continues now, with the launch window opening at

Update 23:56: In a tweet, Blue Origin officials just announced, “New Glenn is fully fired up for its inaugural mission with our Blue Ring Pathfinder.”

Update 23:45: Blue Origin released this video of Jacklyn, which was predicted to encounter sea structures up to 6 feet to 7 feet during the upcoming launch window while awaiting the return of the New Glenn first-stage booster.

Port Canaveral’s landmark Exploration Tower is visible in the portion of the video shot from the drone ship.

The Blue Origin drone ship Jacklyn docked at Port Canaveral in Florida

After stage separation, the New Glenn rocket’s first-stage boosters will aim for landing hundreds of miles offshore atop Blue Origin’s drone ship Jacklyn.

Blue origin

Update at 11.30 p.m.: In a potentially positive sign, this National Weather Service radar loop in the southeast shows bands of heavy cloud cover tracking across the Florida peninsula — but those bands remain south of Cape Canaveral.

Update 23:15: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency’s launch operations support team ahead of Blue Origin’s upcoming New Glenn launch.

Update at 23:00: It appears that clouds will be a major point of concern for Blue Origin crews during New Glenn’s three-hour launch window.

“The vehicle looks good for the evening window, but we are watching the weather closely as clouds build over the Space Coast. If we are unable to launch, we will make an attempt on Friday, January 17, during the same 1-4 am EST (window),” a Blue Origin spokesman said in an email shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Visit floridatoday.com/space for the latest news and launch schedules from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

Rick Neale is the Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

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