Blue Origin, a pioneering space company, has been successfully launching cargo and astronauts into Earth’s orbit using its New Shepard rocket. This single stage rocket will soon be joined by its larger and more powerful counterpart, the New Glenn. The New Glenn, a two-stage rocket designed for commercial payloads, has completed a crucial fire test of its second stage, bringing it closer to its maiden launch in November.
Standing at an impressive 320 feet tall and boasting a spacious fairing capable of accommodating three school buses, the New Glenn is propelled by seven BE-4 engines, renowned as the most powerful LNG-fueled engines ever flown. The first stage is reusable and will land on a floating platform, while the second stage, equipped with two BE-3U engines, will carry payloads into orbit.
The BE-3U engines are remarkable for their high thrust-to-weight ratio, making them some of the most powerful hydrogen engines ever flown. With the New Glenn, Blue Origin aims to expand its capabilities and provide valuable services to the commercial space industry. The rocket’s impressive size and payload capacity position it as a strong contender for various missions, including satellite launches, scientific experiments, and potential future human spaceflight endeavors.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, designed to launch payloads to various Earth orbits, successfully completed its first hot fire test this week. The test demonstrated the second stage, the GS2, which can be restarted up to three times during a mission. The GS2 operated for 15 seconds, showcasing the tank pressurization control, thrust vector control, and engine start-up and shut-down sequences. Ground control systems also performed as expected.
The upcoming launch, NG-1, is scheduled for November and will carry the Blue Ring, a spacecraft capable of hauling up to 3,000 kg of cargo between different orbits. The Blue Ring is also slated for the USSF’s DarkSky-1 mission, though specific details remain undisclosed.
The successful fire test is a significant milestone for Blue Origin as they continue to develop their New Glenn rocket. The ability to restart the second stage multiple times during a mission provides the rocket with greater flexibility and versatility, allowing it to launch payloads to a wider range of orbits. Additionally, the Blue Ring, with its large cargo capacity and maneuverability, has the potential to revolutionize orbital logistics and space transportation.
