Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket, the New Glenn, successfully launched from Florida early Thursday after its first launch attempt was aborted on Wednesday.

This flight is Bezos’ attempt to enter the private space race. The successful launch could open up competition for Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

The New Glenn began its first-ever ascent to the stars on Thursday morning, and Blue Origin said the primary goal of the first flight was simply to get into orbit.

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A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket lifts off from Kennedy Space Center’s Space Launch Complex 36 on its maiden flight at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on January 16, 2025. (GREGG NEWTON/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

“To reiterate our goals: This is our first flight and we have prepared thoroughly for it. But no amount of ground testing or mission simulation can replace flight on this rocket,” Blue Origin said of X.

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A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket races into orbit after liftoff from Kennedy Space Center on its maiden flight Jan. 16, 2025, at Cape Canaveral, Florida. (GREGG NEWTON/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)

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“Our main goal today is to reach orbit safely. Anything beyond that is the icing on the cake. We know that landing the launch vehicle on our first attempt off the coast of the Atlantic is ambitious – but we’ll try. No matter what happens, we will.” “We will learn, refine and apply this knowledge on our next launch,” it said.