New Glenn, the orbital class rocket developed by Blue Origin, holds a special significance as it is named after the legendary NASA astronaut and US Senator John Glenn. John Glenn, who passed away in 2016, had the opportunity to learn about the rocket that would bear his name from Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos before his demise.
During a recent launch broadcast, a touching note from John Glenn to Jeff Bezos was shared by Blue Origin's VP Ariane Cornell. In the note, Glenn expressed his admiration for Bezos' vision of making space travel accessible to all, not just highly trained professionals.
Glenn, who made history by orbiting the Earth in 1962, highlighted the remarkable progress in space exploration since then. He noted that when he returned to space in 1998, Blue Origin was still a nascent idea, but Bezos was already driven by a vision of democratizing space travel.
Expressing his gratitude for naming the second-generation rockets after him, Glenn envisioned a future where space travel would be as commonplace as air travel, thanks to Bezos' pioneering efforts. He credited Bezos' achievements as instrumental in paving the way for a future where millions of people could board spacecraft with ease.
The touching exchange between John Glenn and Jeff Bezos serves as a reminder of the transformative power of innovation and the enduring legacy of those who dare to push the boundaries of exploration. The naming of New Glenn stands as a tribute to Glenn's pioneering spirit and Bezos' commitment to making space travel a reality for all.
