Thursday marked a groundbreaking milestone in space exploration with Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket delivering an exceptional performance. Not only did the vehicle launch successfully, but its first stage executed a flawless ocean landing, gently touching down near the Jacklyn drone ship before settling precisely onto the barge’s center. This achievement underscores the rapid advancements in reusable rocket technology, making space access more sustainable and cost-effective. Experts highlight that such innovations are transforming the industry, with some noting that reusable boosters could reduce launch costs by up to 70%. This success paves the way for more frequent and reliable missions, fueling optimism about humanity’s future among the stars.

In other news, China’s Galactic Energy experienced a setback when its Ceres-1 rocket, launched from Jiuquan, failed to complete its mission. Although the first stages performed well, the early shutdown of the final stage resulted in the loss of all three satellites. Such incidents remind us that space launches remain complex endeavors, but each attempt provides valuable lessons that drive future improvements.

David Nield

Dave is a freelance tech journalist with over 20 years covering gadgets, apps, and the web. From Stockport, England, he covers news, features, and reviews for TechRadar, focusing on phones, tablets, and wearables. He ensures top weekend breaking news and has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci, and others. He edited PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook for years. Read me on x.com or linkedin.