Blue Ring pathfinder prepped for liftoff Blue Origin has confirmed its New Glenn rocket is on track for launch before the end of 2024.… The company made the announcement alongside confirmation that the Blue Ring payload – which replaced the initially manifested NASA ESCAPADE mission to Mars earlier this year – was ready to launch.

With 22 days left in the year, Blue Origin on Dec. 9 reiterated its plan to launch the first New Glenn orbital rocket this month, with a key static hot-fire of the booster’s reusable first stage still pending.

Blue Origin plans to launch its massive New Glenn rocket by the end of 2024, but it still needs to pass a key test and get final approval from regulators. The critical “hot fire” test will fire up all seven engines of the rocket’s first stage at full power,

Blue Origin said Tuesday that the test payload for the first launch of its new rocket, New Glenn, is ready for liftoff. The company published an image of the "Blue Ring" pathfinder nestled up against one half of the rocket's payload fairing.

Blue Origin is targeting a 2024 launch for its New Glenn rocket, the reusable spacecraft that saw significant delays.

Blue Origin says its New Glenn Rocket is ready to launch now! ▶ WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS. But before that happens, the company is waiting for regulatory approvals for a h