Blue Origin launch: Jeff Bezos’ New Glenn rocket blasts off, returns to Earth in stunning scenes

Billionaire Amazon owner Jeff Bezos has launched his Blue Origin New Glenn rocket, after multiple abandoned attempts, successfully landing back on Earth just nine minutes later.

The Blue Origin rocket was carrying two NASA satellites which will now head to Mars to collect data.

In astonishing scenes, the rocket launched, then within nine minutes, returned to Earth, landing successfully on the Blue Origin landing pad, meaning the rocket can be reused.

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Mr Bezos’ New Glenn rocket was tested in January, however, this launch marked the first launch with a payload designed for further journey.

Moments before the launch, lift off was aborted due to an undisclosed issue.

“Terminal count abort,” Blue Origin said on X, updating onlookers that the launch had been temporarily cancelled.

However, 30 minutes later, Mr Bezos’ rocket was off.

The launch, according to Blue Origin, took place without issue.

Hundreds of onlookers cheered from nearby beaches watching the New Glenn leave the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

As the rocket reached the edge of Earth, edging into space, the two NASA Mars probes were released, before New Glenn’s boosters spun around and landed in the middle of a small barge set up in the ocean.

Sadly for Mr Bezos, the heat of the rocket landing appeared to impact camera connections, with buffering interrupting the views of the landing.

Blue Origin is celebrating the launch as a milestone that will introduce competition to the industry, as well as marking the achievement in reusable rockets.

The entire live stream of the launch was broadcast on X.