UPDATE: Blue Origin’s first recovered first-stage booster for the New Glenn rocket has just arrived at Port Canaveral, marking a major milestone for the aerospace company. The booster, named “Never Tell Me The Odds,” reached the port on November 18, 2025, just five days after its launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on the NG-2 mission for NASA.
This impressive 189-foot tall booster stands out against the skyline, showcasing its sleek design with a bright white paint job and a striking gold top. Its massive size dwarfs the smaller SpaceX Falcon 9 boosters nearby, which have each seen multiple flights and display the telltale black soot from numerous reentries.
The New Glenn booster successfully landed on the recovery vessel Jacklyn, named after Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos‘ mother, located approximately 375 miles downrange. This achievement brings Blue Origin into direct competition with SpaceX, which has successfully recovered boosters 535 times over the last decade.
With a diameter of 23 feet compared to the Falcon 9’s 12 feet, the New Glenn also boasts a combined height of 322 feet when including its first and second stages plus the fairing. Blue Origin’s New Glenn booster aims for reusability up to 25 times, a significant goal that reflects the company’s ambition in the competitive space exploration landscape.
The arrival of “Never Tell Me The Odds” is not just a feather in Blue Origin’s cap; it symbolizes a decade-long journey since SpaceX’s first booster recovery in 2015. The successful landing of this booster marks an essential step in Blue Origin’s mission to establish itself as a key player in the commercial space sector.
Blue Origin’s next launch is anticipated to send the uncrewed Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander to the moon, with plans originally targeting a liftoff before the end of 2025. However, delays are likely, pushing the launch into early 2026.
The arrival of this booster at Port Canaveral is a testament to the progress in reusable rocket technology and the increasing competition between private aerospace companies. As the race for space exploration heats up, the implications of this achievement resonate beyond just technology; they embody the spirit of innovation and ambition that drives the industry forward.
Stay tuned for further updates as Blue Origin prepares for its next monumental steps in space exploration.
