The New Glenn rocket, developed by Blue Origin, represents a groundbreaking advancement in reusable rocketry. Named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, it embodies the company’s vision of creating a pathway to space that benefits Earth. This massive and versatile rocket is engineered for ambitious missions, carrying substantial payloads while significantly reducing costs and environmental impact.
Key Features
1. Reusability for Cost-Efficiency and Sustainability
The first stage of the New Glenn is designed for at least 25 flights. This reusability drastically reduces operational costs and material waste, setting a new benchmark for sustainability in space exploration.
2. Increased Payload Volume
With a seven-meter diameter payload fairing, New Glenn offers double the volume of traditional five-meter-class fairings. This expanded capacity allows greater flexibility for customers, enabling the transportation of larger and more complex payloads.
3. Single Configuration for Maximum Adaptability
New Glenn’s modular design accommodates various payload types and mission profiles, minimizing per-launch costs while maintaining flexibility for diverse requirements.
4. Hydrogen-Powered Upper Stage for Enhanced Performance
The rocket’s upper stage, powered by liquid hydrogen, is capable of delivering over 13 metric tons to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) and 45 metric tons to low Earth orbit (LEO), making it ideal for high-demand missions.
5. Trusted Partnerships
Blue Origin collaborates with global leaders, including NASA, Telesat, and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, leveraging these relationships to advance space exploration and commercial development.
Advanced American-Made Engines
Reusable First Stage with Seven BE-4 Engines
The New Glenn’s first stage features seven BE-4 engines, each producing 550,000 pounds of thrust at sea level. Fueled by liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquefied natural gas (LNG), these engines ensure cleaner combustion and enhanced efficiency, while their U.S.-based production guarantees independence from foreign technologies.
Versatile Upper Stage Powered by Two BE-3U Engines
The upper stage utilizes two BE-3U engines, each delivering 160,000 pounds of thrust in the vacuum of space. These restartable engines enhance mission flexibility, building on the proven performance of the BE-3PM engine used in Blue Origin’s New Shepard.
“Its design meets diverse payload and destination needs, significantly reducing launch costs.”
A Colossus Among Rockets
Standing over 98 meters tall, New Glenn is one of the largest rockets ever built. Its expansive seven-meter fairing can accommodate larger payloads and satellite constellations, while its hydrogen-powered upper stage is optimized for demanding missions across LEO, MEO, and GEO.
Florida-Based Launch and Manufacturing Complex
New Glenn is developed, integrated, launched, and refurbished within a 14-kilometer radius near Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. The state-of-the-art Launch Complex 36 (LC-36), rebuilt by Blue Origin, supports every stage of the rocket’s lifecycle, from vehicle integration to first-stage refurbishment.
A Mission for Earth’s Future
Blue Origin envisions a future where humanity and heavy industries expand into space to preserve Earth, humanity’s “blue origin.” The New Glenn is pivotal to realizing this vision, enabling large-scale space exploration and development while safeguarding our planet.
“New Glenn is our giant, reusable rocket built for bigger missions.”
Conclusion
New Glenn represents a monumental step in the evolution of spaceflight. Its innovative design, reusable systems, and powerful engines position it as a key player in advancing space exploration and commercial opportunities. With trusted partnerships and a commitment to sustainability, Blue Origin is charting a bold course toward a future where space exploration benefits all of humanity.
“A rocket purpose-built for delivering high volume and mass to orbit, New Glenn unlocks our vision of moving people and industries to space to preserve Earth.”
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