New Glenn
Overview
The Blue Origin's New Glenn is a reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle currently under development. Named after John Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth, the New Glenn is designed to deliver payloads to low Earth orbit (LEO), geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), and beyond. The vehicle is part of Blue Origin's broader ambition to enable a future where millions of people can live and work in space.
Design and Development
The New Glenn is designed as a two-stage rocket, with an optional third stage for missions beyond LEO. The first stage is powered by seven BE-4 engines, while the second stage uses a single, vacuum-optimized BE-4U engine. Both stages are designed to be reusable, with the first stage capable of landing back on a ship at sea, similar to the landing method used by SpaceX's Falcon 9.
The development of New Glenn began in 2012, with the first test flight originally scheduled for 2020. However, the test flight has been delayed several times, with the current target date set for late 2022. Despite these delays, Blue Origin has expressed confidence in the vehicle's design and capabilities.
Capabilities
The New Glenn is designed to carry up to 45 metric tons to LEO and 13 metric tons to GTO. This makes it one of the most powerful launch vehicles currently under development, surpassed only by SpaceX's Starship and NASA's Space Launch System (SLS).
In addition to its payload capacity, the New Glenn's reusability is a key aspect of its design. Blue Origin has stated that the first stage of the New Glenn is designed to be reused for up to 25 missions. This reusability is expected to significantly reduce the cost of space launches, making space more accessible to a wider range of customers.
Future Missions
Blue Origin has secured several customers for the New Glenn, including commercial satellite operators and national security payloads. The company has also expressed interest in using the New Glenn for lunar missions, in line with NASA's Artemis program to return humans to the Moon.
The New Glenn could also play a key role in Blue Origin's long-term vision of enabling large-scale human presence in space. The company's founder, Jeff Bezos, has outlined a future where millions of people live and work in space, and the New Glenn is a critical part of achieving that vision.