Blue Origin successfully launched the rocket after an attempt earlier in the week was scrubbed. The flight is a crucial test of the company’s ability to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

It was a triumph for Jeff Bezos as his rocket ship, New Glenn, blasted off. The Amazon founder watched from the control center as Blue Origin employees across the nation celebrated. It's the first successful rocket launch from Bezos' company.

After years of delays, the billionaire’s Blue Origin space company launched its New Glenn rocket early Thursday.

Blue Origin aborted the first launch attempt due to technical issues, but this Thursday, they successfully conducted their first test from Cape Canaveral. They achieved the main goal of orbiting safely but were unable to recover the reusable rocket booster on a maritime platform.

Blue Origin's New Glenn finally roared into orbit in the early hours of Thursday, with SpaceX's Starship rocket set to launch hours later.

Elon Musk has successfully launched his Starship for the seventh time, just hours after Jeff Bezos tested his rival rocket.

After Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin nailed its first-ever orbital flight, Elon Musk's SpaceX is seizing back the spotlight Thursday with the latest Starship launch.