Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, has finally hit a major milestone with the successful debut flight of its New Glenn rocket. This launch marks a significant step forward for the company, which has often been criticized for moving too slowly in the competitive space industry.

The New Glenn rocket, standing over 300 feet tall, soared into orbit on its first attempt—a rare achievement for a new rocket. While the first stage wasn’t recovered, the mission was still a huge win for Blue Origin. Experts say this success could be the turning point the company needed to prove it’s a serious player in the space race.

For years, Blue Origin has been seen as the “tortoise” in the race against SpaceX, the “hare.” Founded around the same time, SpaceX has launched hundreds of rockets, while Blue Origin has focused on smaller projects like its suborbital New Shepard vehicle. But with new leadership and a renewed sense of urgency, Blue Origin is now aiming to catch up.

Dave Limp, who took over as CEO in late 2023, has been working to streamline the company’s priorities. “We had a lot of balls in the air,” Limp said. “But now, we’re focused on building engines and rockets—and doing it fast.”

Jeff Bezos, who has been pumping billions into the company, is optimistic about the future. “This is the very beginning of the Space Age,” he said. “There’s going to be room for multiple winners, and Blue Origin is going to be one of them.”

The next steps for Blue Origin include ramping up production of New Glenn rockets and exploring ways to reduce costs. The company is also considering reusable upper stages, a move that could make its launches more affordable and competitive.

While SpaceX continues to dominate with its reusable Falcon 9 rockets and ambitious Starship program, Blue Origin is betting on its methodical approach. As Bezos put it, “Step by step, ferociously.”

With the New Glenn launch, Blue Origin has shown it’s ready to step up its game. The question now is whether it can keep the momentum going and carve out its place in the new era of space exploration.