Blue Origin Unveils Ambitious New Glenn Rocket Plans
▼ Summary
– Blue Origin announced upgrades to its New Glenn rocket, including a new variant with more engines and super-heavy lift capability.
– The upgrades aim to increase payload performance, launch cadence, and reliability, starting with the third launch in the first half of 2026.
– The new 9×4 variant will feature nine BE-4 engines on the first stage and four on the upper stage, compared to the current 7×2 configuration.
– This evolved vehicle can carry over 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit and has a larger fairing, but no specific debut timeline was disclosed.
– The 9×4 variant could launch as early as 2027, offering lift capacity similar to NASA’s SLS at a fraction of the cost with a reusable first stage.
Following the recent successful second launch of its powerful New Glenn rocket, Blue Origin has announced a detailed roadmap for significant upgrades aimed at boosting performance and reliability. These planned enhancements, set to begin with the third launch expected in the first half of 2026, are intended to increase payload capacity and launch frequency.
The most ambitious development in the update is a new variant of New Glenn that will transform it into a super-heavy lift launch vehicle. This evolved rocket, referred to internally as the 9×4, will feature nine BE-4 engines on its first stage instead of the current seven, and four BE-4 engines on its upper stage instead of two. The current configuration is known as the 7×2.
According to the company, the New Glenn 9×4 is designed for missions demanding exceptional capacity and performance. It is projected to carry more than 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, over 14 metric tons directly to geosynchronous orbit, and more than 20 metric tons on a trans-lunar injection trajectory. This new variant will also be equipped with a larger 8.7-meter payload fairing.
Blue Origin has not yet provided a specific timeline for the debut of the 9×4 vehicle. A company spokesperson indicated that the iterative design approach, building upon the existing 7×2 vehicle, will enable a relatively quick development cycle. However, sources familiar with the internal planning suggest a potential first flight for the 9×4 variant could occur as early as 2027.
This super-heavy lift version of New Glenn would be a formidable launch vehicle. Its lift capacity would be nearly equivalent to that of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. Crucially, Blue Origin’s rocket is designed with a fully reusable first stage, a larger fairing, and an estimated launch cost that is likely less than one-tenth of the SLS’s projected $2.2 billion per flight.
(Source: Ars Technica)
