Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket visible as a streak of light from bottom right to top left ... images of the 98-meter-tall rocket heading toward the heavens. At the same time, NASA astronaut ...

Although founded 25 years ago, Bezos' company had yet to begin flying to orbit — with its much smaller New Shepard rocket only flying people and research on short jaunts to the edge of space.

and likes flying fast. After reaching a speed of 114 miles an hour with an RC plane, he wanted to go further and break that record. To do so, he looked towards rocket power, and started a new build.

In the meantime, SpaceX developed its own gargantuan rocket ... crew of Artemis V toward the end of the decade. Like this story? We think you'll also like the Future of FLYING newsletter sent ...