If you're talking about New Glenn, the big one - it's because Bezos has been following the Old Space development method. (New Space aka Musk and SpaceX, adopted "move fast and break things"). He's not burning as much cash as Musk, so each rocket is more precious.
I'm pretty sure Bezos is burning a lot more money.
NewGlenn is far more expensive vs SpaceX implementations. +He has 0% income from space related stuff.
Orbit or not it’s flashier when they blow up so Trump likes Elon’s better. Trump is attracted to failure so he doesn’t feel inadequate! Bezos may be strangely competent for someone on the Trump team even though he’s trying his hardest to piss off his customers to suck up to Trump.
Orbit requires escape velocity to make it far enough, then a burn to circularize the orbit and stop it just being a big parabola. That requires a gravity turn to change the velocity vector which takes you quite far away from your limo home.
That specific rocket wasn't designed to go into orbit, which is much more stressful on the craft. They specifically go to the Karman Line - the recognized boundary of space about 100km up.
They have a new rocket to go into orbit, but I don't think they've used it yet.
If you mean New Glenn (Blue Origin’s orbital rocket), it flew a test in January. If you mean New Shepard, it’s flown 30 times and is scheduled to fly today but by design can only fly suborbital. If you mean Vulcan (the ULA rocket with Blue engines), it was supposed to launch last week but scrubbed
Space guy here. New Glenn, their orbital vehicle, has actually made orbit and did so recently. New Shepard was never meant for that. Always been suborbital tourist thing (and kind of dumb).
Of note, Blue Origin is older than SpaceX. Look at the difference.
Orbital flight is much harder than suborbital. The New Shepard works fine for space tourism.
The New Glenn rocket has made one orbital flight. Mostly a success, but the first stage that was supposed to be reusable was lost about fifteen miles up.
FAA review has to be completed before next attempt.
I (and apparently everyone else in comments) took it the way DL did, that it had never been in orbit. I wasn't thinking about a launch scheduled for today. That may be what was meant in the original post but it wasn't clear.
It was never designed to. To reach an orbital altitude it would require trajectory and reentry heat shielding unless the rutan slow entry design were used. It’s just an expensive amusement ride for now. Fully automated. A great feat, but, entertainment.
Musk's try shit and blow up rockets approach was and is still risky and will lead to catastrophe sooner or later. Think cybertruck trim falling off. Bezos is doing it the old fashioned way with actual iterative engineering. 1st orbital launch expected in late fall. Stay tuned. Tortise and hare.
SpaceX Falcon 9 is the most reliable orbital rocket ever created by humans (stats below).
The explody rocket, Starship, is in development and is the largest rocket ever created by humans (can carry 100 people). It will also cost less per launch than Falcon 9.
Comments
Oh wait - which "penis shaped rocket which doesnt quite send you into orbit" are you talking about?
Lady SpiceX sold him the old motor though.
NewGlenn is far more expensive vs SpaceX implementations. +He has 0% income from space related stuff.
New Glenn, their orbital class rocket, has gone to orbit and the next flight is soon
(Don't @ me!)
Updates on the mission from ULA here:
https://www.ulalaunch.com/missions/next-launch/atlas-v-kuiper-1
To be fair, Starship hasn't made to orbit either.
They have a new rocket to go into orbit, but I don't think they've used it yet.
So Bezos!
Of note, Blue Origin is older than SpaceX. Look at the difference.
Amazon Dive ?
The tourist rocket is small and lacks the fuel to go to orbit.
He also has a giant rocket that has gone to orbit but I suspect it will be a long time before it is certified to carry people.
The New Glenn rocket has made one orbital flight. Mostly a success, but the first stage that was supposed to be reusable was lost about fifteen miles up.
FAA review has to be completed before next attempt.
https://www.blueorigin.com/news/new-glenn-ng-1-mission
The explody rocket, Starship, is in development and is the largest rocket ever created by humans (can carry 100 people). It will also cost less per launch than Falcon 9.
New Shepard (the one carrying the influencers) isn't orbital.
New Glenn has flown to orbit in January. Next flight TBD.