Blue Origin announced plans to lay off about 10% of its workforce — or more than 1,000 employees — nearly a month after the company debuted its first orbital rocket.

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket on its Florida launch pad in January. (Blue Origin Photo) Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin space venture plans to cut about 10% of

In the memo to staff, Blue Origin's chief executive, Dave Limp, said the job cuts are part of a plan to trim managerial ranks and focus resources on ramping up rocket launches. Blue Origin has recently completed the first test flight of its New Glenn rocket,