Blue Origin might not be launching satellites into orbit like SpaceX, but they have already launched and landed the same rocket 4 times. Their New Shepard rocket launched a capsule containing research payloads up to 331,501 feet, about 4,000 feet above the Karman line generally recognized as the beginning of outer space. You can watch the launch and landing above (skip to 1:03:00 for the launch).

For now, Blue Origin seems to be focusing specifically on the space tourism game, hoping to offer rides to civilians to the edge of outer space, followed by a parachute ride back down in the capsule. For today's launch, Blue Origin purposefully deployed only two of the three parachutes attached to the capsule to test what would happen if one of them failed. The capsule landed safely on the ground.

The New Shepard rocket also landed successfully after using small steering fins to steer toward a landing pad and then engaging a reentry burn at about 3,500 feet to slow down and land. Data retrieved from the research payloads will help Blue Origin tweak what needs to be changed to start sending people to the edge of space. They might not be launching resupply missions to the ISS, but Blue Origin is successfully reusing rockets.

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