Blue Origin said Tuesday that the test payload for the first launch of its new rocket, New Glenn, is ready for liftoff. The company published an image of the "Blue Ring" pathfinder nestled up against one half of the rocket's payload fairing.

Blue Ring pathfinder prepped for liftoff Blue Origin has confirmed its New Glenn rocket is on track for launch before the end of 2024.… The company made the announcement alongside confirmation that the Blue Ring payload – which replaced the initially manifested NASA ESCAPADE mission to Mars earlier this year – was ready to launch.

Blue Origin says it's on track to launch its towering New Glenn vehicle before the year’s end, though the company is still awaiting regulatory approval to

Dr. Don Platt, Associate Professor of Space Systems at Florida Institute of Technology, told Channel 9, “You know, Blue Origin has been working towards the launch of their orbital rocket, the New Glenn, for a number of years now. And so, we’re about ready to finally see the first test flight.”

Blue Origin plans to launch its massive New Glenn rocket by the end of 2024, but it still needs to pass a key test and get final approval from regulators. The critical “hot fire” test will fire up all seven engines of the rocket’s first stage at full power,

Blue Origin is targeting a 2024 launch for its New Glenn rocket, the reusable spacecraft that saw significant delays.

Blue Origin has revealed New Glenn is on track to launch by the end of the year - pending regulatory approval.

With 22 days left in the year, Blue Origin on Dec. 9 reiterated its plan to launch the first New Glenn orbital rocket this month, with a key static hot-fire of the booster’s reusable first stage still pending.

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is on track to be launched before the end of 2024. Before that can happen, the company needs to receive regulatory approval so it can complete the crucial final tests on the massive structure.