BTIG Initiates Buy on SoftBank as AI and Robotics Strategy Gains Momentum 
Nvidia Appoints Former Google Executive Alison Wagonfeld as First Chief Marketing Officer 
xAI Cash Burn Highlights the High Cost of Competing in Generative AI 
Mercedes-Benz to Launch Advanced Urban Self-Driving System in the U.S., Challenging Tesla FSD 
Samsung Forecasts Strong Q4 Profit on AI-Driven Memory Chip Boom 
Samsung to Double AI-Powered Mobile Devices with Google Gemini in Global AI Race 
U.S. Dollar Steadies Ahead of Fed Minutes as Markets Eye Policy Divisions 
Asian Currencies Trade Flat as Dollar Weakens in Thin New Year Trading 
South Korea Factory Output Misses Forecasts in November Amid Ongoing Economic Uncertainty 
U.S. Stocks Slip as Gold Rebounds Ahead of Year-End, Markets Eye 2026 Outlook 
Discord Confidentially Files for U.S. IPO, Signaling Major Milestone 
Samsung Electronics Hits Record High as AI Momentum Fuels Investor Optimism 
Wall Street Ends Mixed as Tech and Financial Stocks Weigh on Markets Amid Thin Holiday Trading 
China’s AI Sector Pushes to Close U.S. Tech Gap Amid Chipmaking Challenges 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Year-End Trading Turns Cautious 
Elon Musk Says X Will Open-Source Its Algorithm Amid EU Scrutiny 
U.S. Dollar Slides Toward Biggest Annual Loss Since 2017 as 2026 Risks Loom 
The FAA has approved Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, allowing Jeff Bezos’ space company to compete in critical national security satellite launches.
FAA Grants Blue Origin License for New Glenn Rocket Launch
On Friday, the FAA announced that Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' rocket company, has received a commercial space launch license for the New Glenn launch, Investing.com reports.
The United States Department of Defense selected Blue Origin, SpaceX (Elon Musk's company), and the United Launch Alliance (a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed) to compete for national security space missions. This is a highly competitive arena that Blue Origin has long aspired to join.
Initial picks were made in June under a $5.6 billion initiative by the Pentagon.
New Glenn Gets Five-Year FAA Approval for Orbital Launches
According to a statement from the FAA, Blue Origin will be permitted to launch orbital flights from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for the next five years. The initial stage of the mission, the reusable New Glenn, will land on an Atlantic Ocean barge.
Prior to the launch of any national security satellites, the United States Space Force must first certify the New Glenn.
Delays Force NASA to Shift Mars Mission
The original plan for the debut mission was to send two NASA spacecraft to Mars by the end of October. However, because of development delays, NASA had to remove New Glenn off the rocket.
On the contrary, New Glenn will be launching Blue Ring-related technologies, a business line that will provide the Pentagon with maneuverable spacecraft.
SpaceX Stays Ahead with Starship Testing
SpaceX is now testing its next-generation rocket, Starship, which is supposed to be totally reusable. The company has already dominated the launch sector with its partially reusable Falcon 9 rocket.
During a flight test in October, the towering first-stage booster of Starship successfully returned to its launch pad in Texas from the edge of space for the first time.
In contrast, Blue Origin's massive New Glenn rocket has been difficult to commercialize. It hired Dave Limp, a veteran at Amazon, in December of last year to speed up construction of the New Glenn rocket.
