Blue Origin hopes New Glenn, named for space legend John Glenn, will make it safely to orbit for the inaugural test flight of a rocket that could rival Elon Musk's SpaceX fleet.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin will launch its first orbital rocket "no earlier than Friday", it said, a pivotal moment in the commercial space race currently dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX.

Blue Origin, the space company founded by Amazon magnate Jeff Bezos, is preparing to launch its inaugural orbital rocket, New Glenn, next week. This milestone is also expected to escalate the rivalry between Bezos,

Blue Origin said on Monday that it is looking to launch its New Glenn rocket for the first time to orbit no earlier than Jan. 10, Friday.

Bezos' New Glenn and Musk's Starship both are heading for launch, and both could lift off in close timing to each other. Here's what we know.

Years in the making, the commercial rocket is on the verge of its maiden flight.

John Glenn was "deeply touched" that Blue Origin named its first orbital-class rocket after him.

Blue Origin's New Glenn on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. (Blue Origin Image) Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin space venture says it's

Jeff Bezos showed in a video on his X profile his newest rocket, the New Glenn, made by his aerospace company Blue Origin.

Blue Origin plans to launch its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket for the first time ever in the wee hours of Friday morning (Jan. 10).