New Era for Reusable Heavy-Lift Rockets
WATCH: Port Canaveral made history this week as Blue Origin’s Landing Platform Vessel 1, Jacklyn, sailed into port carrying the first-ever recovered New Glenn booster—a milestone moment following last week’s successful inaugural launch of the massive reusable rocket.
BREVARD COUNTY • PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – Port Canaveral made history this week as Blue Origin’s Landing Platform Vessel 1, Jacklyn, sailed into port carrying the first-ever recovered New Glenn booster—a milestone moment following last week’s successful inaugural launch of the massive reusable rocket.
The arrival marks a pivotal achievement for Blue Origin and for Florida’s Space Coast, which continues to solidify its status as the nation’s premier hub for commercial spaceflight.
Crowds of space enthusiasts, port workers, and industry insiders gathered along the harbor to witness Jacklyn’s approach, capturing images of the towering booster standing securely on the deck after its precision landing at sea.
Port Canaveral officials said they were “proud and honored” to support the recovery operation, calling it an example of the region’s growing role in advancing America’s space-launch capabilities.
“This is a historic day—not just for Blue Origin, but for the entire Space Coast,” port leadership said in a statement.
“To see the first New Glenn booster safely recovered and returned home is something many of us have waited years to witness. We’re honored to play a part in this exciting new chapter of America’s space program.”
A New Era for Reusable Heavy-Lift Rockets
New Glenn, named after astronaut and U.S. senator John Glenn, is Blue Origin’s next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle designed to compete in the global commercial, government, and national security markets.
Standing more than 320 feet tall, the rocket is engineered with a reusable first stage built to withstand multiple flights—an approach aimed at dramatically reducing launch costs and increasing cadence.
Last week’s launch marked the rocket’s maiden voyage, a mission widely viewed as a major step forward for the company after years of development.
The successful recovery of the booster on Jacklyn—a ship converted initially specifically for this role—demonstrates the viability of Blue Origin’s marine-based landing system.
Boost for Port Canaveral and the Space Coast
Port Canaveral has become a critical partner in reusable rocket infrastructure, serving as the return point for SpaceX boosters over the past decade and now for Blue Origin’s New Glenn program. Space Coast officials say the port’s role will continue to expand as launch rates increase and more commercial providers establish operations in the region.
Local economic leaders applauded the moment as a signal of continued growth in aerospace jobs, investment, and innovation.
“Moments like this underscore why Brevard County is at the center of the aerospace renaissance,” said one local official. “Each successful recovery brings new opportunities for technical talent, supply-chain growth, and long-term stability for our workforce.”
With its first flight and recovery now complete, Blue Origin is expected to begin post-flight inspections of the booster at its nearby Cape Canaveral facilities. Engineers will analyze how the rocket performed during launch, re-entry, and landing to refine the design ahead of future missions.
The company has announced plans for a robust flight manifest in the coming years, including commercial satellite deployments and national security missions under U.S. Space Force contracts.
As Jacklyn’s arrival demonstrated, the Space Coast will remain at the heart of these operations—its port, workforce, and infrastructure playing essential roles as reusable rocketry enters a new phase.
For many onlookers, the sight of New Glenn’s first booster returning home wasn’t just a technological milestone—it was the symbolic beginning of the next chapter in America’s push deeper into space.
The post WATCH: Witnessing History at Port Canaveral, First Recovered New Glenn Booster Arrives Aboard Blue Origin’s ‘Jacklyn’ appeared first on Space Coast Daily.