Blue Origin is counting down to the launch of its New Glenn rocket on an orbital mission that's been more than a decade in the making.

Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin readied the company's powerful New Glenn rocket for its delayed but long-awaited maiden flight early Monday, kicking off a high-stakes bid to compete head-to-head with Elon Musk's SpaceX and its industry dominating Falcon family of rockets.

A quarter century after its founding, Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin is finally ready for its maiden orbital voyage with a brand new rocket the company hopes will shake up the commercial space race.