New Glenn

New Glenn is a heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle in development by Blue Origin. Named after astronaut John Glenn, it is designed to launch commercial, civil, and national security payloads to various Earth orbits, including low Earth orbit (LEO), geostationary orbit (GEO), and lunar orbit.

Overview:

New Glenn is a two-stage rocket intended to be partially reusable. The first stage is designed to be recovered and reused, landing vertically on a sea-based platform, similar to SpaceX's Falcon 9. The second stage is expendable. The rocket is powered by seven BE-4 engines on the first stage and two BE-3U engines on the second stage. Both engine families are developed and manufactured by Blue Origin.

Specifications (Projected):

• Height: Approximately 98 meters (321 feet)
• Diameter: 7 meters (23 feet)
• Payload to LEO: 45 metric tons (99,000 lbs)
• Payload to GTO: 13 metric tons (28,600 lbs)

Development:

Blue Origin announced New Glenn in 2016, with initial launch targets set for 2020. The program has experienced delays, and the current target for the first launch is projected to be no earlier than late 2024. The development process has involved extensive testing of the BE-4 engine and the vehicle's structural components.

Significance:

New Glenn represents Blue Origin's entry into the heavy-lift launch market. It is intended to compete with vehicles such as SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and future Starship, United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur, and other heavy-lift rockets. The development of reusable launch systems like New Glenn is aimed at reducing the cost of space access and enabling more frequent and affordable space missions.