Blue Origin continued to prep for the maiden flight of its massive New Glenn rocket as it went vertical on the launch pad Thursday ahead of an upcoming hot fire test needed before a launch attempt that is targeting before the end of the year.

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket second stage was run through a static fire test. Credit: Blue Origin |edited by Space.com's Steve Spaleta Music: Jupiter Aurora by David Celeste / courtesy of Epidemic S

Blue Origin's powerful new orbital rocket has risen on the launch pad to prep for a debut flight that could happen soon. New Glenn was stacked at Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida,