Something Weird Happening with New Glenn on Pad for a Month while Starship Flight 7...

what a shame despite all the determination confidence and ambitious plans blue origin still seems far from reaching orbit this year the disappointment is even more glaring compared to SpaceX the Rival they aimed to surpass which continues its remarkable progress how far ahead is SpaceX why does its success underscore blue Origins struggles and how did Bezos and his team end up here let's explore it all on today's episode of great SpaceX boom SpaceX has once again shaken the Aerospace world with another electrifying static fire test of the Starship super heavy this marks a crucial Milestone on the journey toward the seventh flight of this colossal rocket with this test complete b14 has officially wrapped up its individual testing phase The Next Step involves either rolling it back to the production site for inspection and hot staging preparation or conducting those processes directly at the Launchpad if all processes stay on schedule the anticipation of a fifth flight this year remains Within Reach SpaceX seems poised to meet its ambitious goals pushing the boundaries of space exploration further according to NASA documents the highly anticipated launch of flight 7 is still tentatively scheduled for January 11th of next year however spacex's rapid progress leaves room for optimism that the mission might take off even sooner whatever the exact timing this latest achievement represents a giant leap forward for the Starship program it's even more impressive considering the Myriad of legal and Regulatory hurdles SpaceX had to overcome in 2024 especially before the successful launch of flight 5 and speaking of hurdles we have to talk about blue origin back when Flight 5 and Starship had yet to take flight blue origin was positioning itself to Launch new Glenn in October hoping to steal the spotlight many thought the faa's delays in granting SpaceX approvals might give blue origin a chance to beat Starship to the punch however despite their plans and preparations here we are in December and new Glenn is still firmly grounded what's holding them back the answer lies in the slow pace of their progress particularly when it comes to a critical step the static fire test interestingly that's the very Milestone SpaceX has just achieved with booster 14 allow me to repeat myself it's December and new Glenn has yet to conduct its static fire test blue origin rolled new Glen to its LC 36 Launchpad on November 21st since then it's been vertically stacked and lowered multiple times after weeks of anticipation blue Origins CEO Dave limp finally addressed the delay in an update post on X he shared a photo and video of the rocket undergoing tanking tests with liquid natural gas and liquid oxygen limp highlighted the massive capacity of new Glens tanks nearly 30,000 cubic feet for liquid oxygen and 25,000 cubic feet for liquid natural gas equivalent to 24 and 20 tanker trucks respectively however the key takeaway wasn't the technical details it was his opening line while we wait for regulatory approvals for Hot Fire fire and launch they're still waiting for approval this brings to mind the regulatory challenges SpaceX has faced time and again perhaps blue origin is now experiencing a taste of those difficulties earlier journalist Christian Davenport reported that the faa's launch license for new Glenn wouldn't be issued in November now with the static fire test still incomplete the prospect of a December launch or any launch this year is fading fast Davenport recently provided a cautious update saying I'm told that it's tight but feasible that the FAA grants approval for a December launch of the inaugural flight of new Glenn blue origin has done an exceptional job of developing their application but there's still some work ahead you see the pattern here while he acknowledges the possibility of progress phrases like it's tight Echo his earlier remarks about November which ultimately proved overly optimistic at this point blue origin can't lay all the blame on regulatory delays the company's slow pace has has been a recurring issue Dev port's mention of some work ahead underscores this let's not forget that much of the hardware rolled out earlier this year was demo equipment more time was spent testing individual systems and the be4 engines a vital component didn't arrive and get installed until October add to this the repeated vertical stacking and lowering of new Glenn which hints at unresolved vehicle and launch system issues per my perspective if a December launch license is highly unlikely even if blue origin receives approval this month they're not poised to launch immediately this means the company is likely to close out another year without reaching orbit a disappointing outcome given their potential and resources one positive development by the company recently is the release of an image showing the blue ring payload inside the new Glenn fairing ACC companying the image was the statement new Glenn's first mission will carry our blue ring Pathfinder and his now ready for launch vehicle integration what do you think can blue origin pull off a launch before the year's end drop your yes or no in the comment section down below as we watch blue Origins struggles SpaceX continues to Surge ahead setting new benchmarks and Rocket development and testing their momentum is a testament to their Relentless drive to push boundaries and redefine the future of space exploration before we wrap this part up we want to thank you for being part of our journey last month we hit an incredible milestone 150,000 subscribers our next goal is 200,000 and we can't get there without your support So if you haven't already hit that subscribe button and join us in following the exciting developments in space flight your likes shares and comments go a long way so for that thank you so much and let's aim for the stars together all right back to the ongoing story of Blue origin versus SpaceX recent updates highlight the Stark differences in these company trajectory since their Inception and these disparities will undoubtedly shape their Futures just a few months ago many doubted SpaceX could progress so quickly toward flight 7 at the time some even speculated that blue origins new Glenn might launch before spacex's fifth Starship flight due to FAA delays but look at where we are now Starship flight 5 and six have both launched successfully and flight 7 is rapidly approaching at this point it's reasonable to assume flight 7 will launch before new Glenn even makes it to the the pad the upcoming flight 7 will likely follow a similar Mission profile to flights 5 and six SpaceX is expected to continue refining key goals such as catching the super heavy booster with the mechazilla arms and executing a controlled vertical Landing of the Starship vehicle however the real standout feature of this mission is the debut of the Starship version 2 this upgraded version introduces significant changes including alterations to its size heat shield and flaps if successful SpaceX will move Clos to the ultimate goal catching both stages with mechazilla achieving full reusability from there the company will shift Focus to orbital operations including building a refueling system to support deep space missions these rapid advancements in just a few years stand in Star contrast to Blue origins new Glenn introduced around the same time as Starship new Glenn has yet to make its debut even if it launches soon it's unlikely to reach the same Milestones as Starship within a comparable time frame delays have plagued new new Glenn and if it fails to launch this year future schedules will undoubtedly be affected blue origin has repeatedly altered the schedule and mission objectives for its first two flights aiming to launch ahead of SpaceX and prepare for nasis Mars missions but those aspirations have fallen short creating a ripple effect on NASA's tightly scheduled missions and the many contracts blue origin needs to fulfill blue origin's inability to reach orbit is causing frustration for everyone involved when compared to spacex's Relentless progress it's hard not to see this as a significant setback and perhaps even an embarrassment for Jeff Bezos and his team the race appears to be over before it truly began what's next for blue origin remains to be seen but for now the gap between the two companies is glaringly obvious as 2024 nears its end after years of preparation late October brought long awaited progress the be4 engine the Rocket's centerpiece was officially installed and by early November new Glenn's second stage was made to its first shortly afterward the payload fairing was stacked and by November 21st new Glenn stood tall on Launchpad LC 36 marking a major step toward its integrated hot fire test this Milestone seemed to signify a turning point however progress quickly faltered casting doubt on new Glenn's Readiness after being rolled out to the pad the rocket underwent no immediate testing instead it was lowered back down on November 26th only to be restacked the same day by December 1st new Glenn was lowered again with no signs of significant activity or testing during this period more than 10 days passed without any meaningful updates leaving industry Watchers confused and concerned about the Rocket's Future these delays and irratic movements suggest underlying issues with either the rocket itself or the launch support systems if the problem lies with the vehicle it could stem from the be4 engines Hardware inconsistencies or complications with the fueling system alternatively the launch infrastructure may be at fault potentially due to problems with fuel handling connections between the rocket and ground equipment or safety protocols without an official explanation from Blue origin speculation abounds but either scenario underscores a lack of Readiness that tarnishes the company's image the situation has Amplified skepticism about blue origin's ability to compete in the modern Space Race musk CEO of SpaceX hasn't missed the opportunity to highlight the disparity on November 21st the same day new Glennon was rolled out to the pad musk tweeted how time flies alongside an image of himself and Jeff Bezos from a meeting two decades ago musk's caption referenced advice he had given Bezos at the time which he claimed had been ignored criticism of blue Origins work ethic isn't new in 2018 Jason Davis a former blue origin official remarked blue is kind of lazy compared to SpaceX today that sentiment res even more as SpaceX continues to achieve significant milestones in the last quarter alone SpaceX completed two Starship missions underscoring its dominance while new Glenn remains grounded the delays surrounding new Glenn are particularly troubling because of the stakes involved several high profile missions depend on its success and any further setbacks could have far-reaching consequences for example blue origin is slated to launch Escapade NASA's Mars spacecraft and the company's proprietary blue ring Miss originally planned for 2024 both have now been delayed with Escapade pushed to early 2025 the time sensitive nature of the Escapade Mission due to the limited launch window to Mars every 26 months makes these delays even more critical additionally blue origin faces mounting pressure from the FAA according to journalist Christian Davenport new Glenn has yet to secure an FAA launch license a process that typically requires rigorous testing and significant lead time time considering the FAA strict approach illustrated by their handling of spacex's Starship it seems unlikely that Newen will obtain certification in the near term even if blue origin completes all necessary tests soon the timeline for licensing and scheduling a launch could easily slip into mid 2025 the consequences of these delays Ripple Beyond new Glenn's inaugural Mission blue origin was awarded contracts for significant projects including Amazon's Kyper satellite program and the ussf National Security space launch phase 3 initiative both programs come with high stakes for instance the Kyper satellite missions are critical to Amazon's plans to compete with spacex's starlink and any backlog would reflect poorly on both blue origin and Jeff Bezos who also founded Amazon similarly the nssl program involves government and Military launches where reliability and timelines are Paramount delays here could damage blue Origins credibility with government Partners the most pressing challenge however lies in new Glenn's role in NASA's Artemis program as part of Artemis 5 new Glenn is expected to launch a crew mission to the Moon following spacex's scheduled missions in 2026 and 2028 with International competitors like China ramping up their lunar Ambitions failure is not an option yet with its current Pace blue origin risks falling further behind potentially jeopardizing its involvement in these landmark missions looking ahead blue origin must not only complete new Glenn's first flight but also demonstrate reliability and scalability to handle the ambitious tasks it has committed to this includes missions tied to the Artemis program Kyper satellites and the nssl initiative all of which require a consistent Cadence of launches failure to deliver could lead to Blue origin being sidelined in favor of more reliable providers like SpaceX or Ula for blue origin 24 was meant to be a breakthrough year with multiple new Glen launches instead the year is ending with mounting doubts about whether the rocket will ever leave the ground if blue origin cannot resolve its challenges quickly it risks irreparable damage to its reputation and Partnerships so the big question remains will new Glenn finally fly or will it continue to collect dust while SpaceX solidifies its dominance share your thoughts in the comment section down below do you think blue origin can turn this around or is it too late late don't forget to like And subscribe for more updates on the evolving Space Race indeed new Glenn finds itself inevitably compared to spacex's Starship once more not long ago new Glenn seemed to be making promising strides especially as the faa's delays on Starship appeared to be leveling the playing field some speculated that new Glenn might even launch before Starship posing a formidable challenge to SpaceX including myself over a month ago I asked which would launch first new Glenn's inaugural flight or St starship's flight 5 as Starship surged ahead the question shifted to new Glenn versus flight 6 however it now seems I overestimated blue origin's progress despite favorable conditions blue origin's apparent inability to move forward has kept new Glen grounded while Starship continues to soar recently SpaceX announced that starship's flight 7 is scheduled for the 11th of January the beginning of 2025 musk also teased plans to attempt a midair ship catch as early as flight 8 can new Glenn launch before those Milestones let me know in the comments down below while new Glenn stagnates starship's development pace is accelerating the rapid turnaround between flight 5 and six is just one example of spacex's operational efficiency with the FAA reportedly considering permitting up to 25 Starship launches next year 224 could be even more explosive for SpaceX the FAA itself May undergo reforms to streamline its licensing procedures further removing barriers for Starship if these reforms take effect SpaceX will likely widen the Gap leaving blue origin even further behind even then blue origin's struggles extend beyond new Glenn's initial launch the company faces numerous high stakes challenges across multiple projects recently NASA assigned both blue origin and SpaceX the task of developing cargo versions of their lunar Landers for delivering pressurized Rover R and habitats to the moon in the early 2030s for SpaceX this means adapting Starship for blue origin it means evolving its blue moon lander NASA has already outlined specific missions for each company Lisa Watson Morgan program manager for the human Landing system at NASA's Marshall space flight center noted based on current design and development progress for both crew and cargo Landers and the Aris Mission schedules for the crew Lander versions NASA assigned a PR przed rover mission for SpaceX and a lunar habitat delivery for blue origin however blue origin's aspirations face a significant obstacle new Glenn has yet to reach orbit without a proven vehicle achieving these lofty goals remains uncertain beyond the lunar lander program blue origin is involved in other critical initiatives for instance it is one of the launch providers for Amazon's Kyper satellite constellation while this contract might seem like a guaranteed win given Amazon's ties to Jeff Bezos delays in new Glenn's development could lead to significant backlogs for the Kyper system similarly blue origin was recently selected for phase three of the usf's National Security space launch program a prestigious project critical to US government and military operations unlike commercial Ventures delays here are unacceptable as evidenced by ula's ongoing challenges with Mission backlogs most importantly new Glenn is slated to support Artemis 5 a crude lunar Miss Mission scheduled after spacex's Artemis 3 and 4 in 2026 and 2028 with China gearing up for its own litter missions during this time frame failure is not an option for blue origin yet the current reality paints a bleak picture new Glenn shows no tangible signs of being ready to handle these critical responsibilities if progress does not accelerate blue origin risks losing its place in these key projects a potential embarrassment that could cause lasting damage to its reputation in addition to what I said at the beginning the phrase so close I can almost taste it can easily turn into so far I can only dream of it for blue origin and new Glenn only time will tell whether they can rise to the challenge or falter Before the Race even begins let's just wait and see what steps blue origin takes next to silence the Skeptics or if they concede the game entirely in any case folks that's about it for today's episode thank you so much for tuning in and as always this has been Kevin from great SpaceX along with my chickens if you could hear them in the background and until next time keep looking up