Amazon founder Jeff Bezos launches New Shepard rocket into space… again

US entrepreneur Jeff Bezos has again launched his New Shepard rocket into space to further attempts to be the first to develop reusable rocket technology. The Amazon.com founder did not warn the public of the test in Texas on Friday, which was ran similar to the launch in November.

However, the Federal Aviation Authority published a temporary flight restriction around Van Horn where Bezos's company, the Blue Origin, launched the rocket.

Writing on his blog, Bezos, said: "The very same New Shepard booster that flew above the Karman line and then landed vertically at its launch site last November has now flown and landed again, demonstrating reuse.

"This time, New Shepard reached an apogee of 333,582ft (101.7km) before both capsule and booster gently returned to Earth for recovery and reuse."

The New Shepard rocket is named after Alan Shepard, the first American to reach space in 1961.
Its first launch reached above the same 100km altitude point - which is considered to be at the beginning of space – before veering back to earth and landing upright on earth.

Speaking at the time of the launch last year, Bezos said: "It was a totally nominal flight. We're walking on cloud nine. There wasn't a dry eye in the house."

Fellow competitor, Elon Musk, from Space X also wants to be the first to develop reusable rocket technology. While Bezos aims for the New Shepherd to fly tourists into space for a few minutes, Space X is in partnership with Nasa and commercial clients to carry payloads and people into orbit.