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Feb 19, 2023
Named after pioneering astronaut John Glenn, New Glenn is a single configuration heavy-lift launch vehicle capable of carrying people and payloads routinely to Earth orbit and beyond. Featuring a reusable first stage built for 25 missions, New Glenn will build a road to space.
New Glenn The Road to Space
Decreased Costs, Increased Access
New Glenn's fully reusable first stage is designed for a minimum of 25 flights, making it competitive for a variety of launch markets. Civil, commercial and national security customers can all find solutions in New Glenn's high-performance configuration.
High Availability Launch Capabilities
New Glenn rocket
New Glenn is a reliable, cost-competitive system with high availability. The 7-meter fairing has two times the payload volume of any existing launch vehicle, which means more room for satellites and the freedom to build in more capacity. New Glenn is also able to launch and land in 95% of weather conditions, making it a reliable option for payload customers.
A New Glenn Flight
New Glenn Flight Profile
New Glenn lifts off from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral. Following stage separation, the first stage flies back to Earth and lands nearly 1,000 km downrange on a platform. The second stage engines ignite and the 7-meter fairing separates. The mission is complete when the payload is delivered safely to orbit.
It’s a Big Rocket
ROCKET COMPARISON
Fly Again and Again
New Glenn, our orbital launch vehicle, is designed for operational reusability from the beginning. BE-4, the world’s most powerful liquid oxygen / liquefied natural gas engine, will enable New Glenn to launch payloads over 13 metric tons to geostationary transfer orbit and 45 metric tons to low Earth orbit.
New Glenn rocket
OPERATIONALLY REUSABLE
- 7-Meter Fairing
New Glenn features more than twice the payload volume of any 5-meter class commercial launch system.
- Upper Stage
The hydrogen upper stage is designed for demanding, highly energetic missions to LEO, MEO, GEO and beyond.
- BE-3U Engines
The second stage is powered by two re-ignitable BE-3U engines delivering 1,100 kN (240,000 lbf) of thrust.
- Fins
The four forward fins are actuated aerodynamic control surfaces used for attitude adjustment during descent and landing of the first stage.
- Reusable First Stage
The first stage of New Glenn is designed for reuse and requires minimal maintenance and inspection between flights.
- Strakes
Two wing-like strakes provide lift and cross-range for the reusable first stage as it flies back to Earth.
- Landing Gear
The aft module houses six hydraulically actuated legs that support and secure the first stage during landing on a moving ship.
- 7 BE-4 Engines
ENGINES
With seven reusable and throttleable BE-4 LOX/LNG engines, the first stage generates 17,100 kN (3.85 million lbf) thrust at sea level.
- BE-4 Engine
Blue Origin BE4 Diagram
BE-4 is the most powerful liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled rocket engine ever developed. Using an oxygen-rich staged combustion cycle, BE-4 is capable of producing 2,400 kN (550,000 lbf) thrust with deep throttle capability.
Robust Design
We chose LNG because it is highly efficient, low cost and widely available. Unlike kerosene, LNG can be used to self-pressurize its tank. Known as autogenous repressurization, this eliminates the need for costly and complex systems that draw on Earth’s scarce helium reserves. LNG also possesses clean combustion characteristics even at low throttle, simplifying engine reuse compared to kerosene fuels.
BE-4 was designed from the beginning to be a medium-performing version of a high-performance architecture. It’s a conscious design choice made to lower development risk while meeting performance, schedule and reusability requirements. With our hardware-rich approach, multiple developmental units and redundant test stands enable a high test tempo and rapid learning.
Moving Towards Full Rate Production
BE-4 is currently undergoing full-scale engine development testing at our facilities in Van Horn, Texas. Full rate production will occur in our new engine manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Alabama.
Multiple Customers
Seven BE-4 engines will power New Glenn’s reusable booster, and two BE-4 engines will drive the first stage of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan launch vehicle.
A 21st Century Launch and Manufacturing Center
ROCKET FACTORY
Blue Origin has built a 180,000 m2 (650,000 ft2) complex to manufacture, integrate and operate New Glenn on Florida’s Space Coast. Rocket stages, payload fairings and adapters will be built and integrated in Florida only 9 miles from the launch pad. The complex is also home to our launch and mission control centers.
New Glenn Will Liftoff From LC-36
LC-36
New Glenn will liftoff from LC-36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This historic site hosted over 140 Atlas II/III rocket launches including the Mariner, Pioneer and Surveyor missions. The rebuilt complex will also be home to New Glenn’s payload integration and first stage refurbishment centers.
Related article:
NASA Selects Blue Origin to Launch Mars’ Magnetosphere Study Mission
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2023/02/nasa-selects-blue-origin-to-launch-mars.html
Related link:
Blue Origin: https://www.blueorigin.com/
Video, Images, Text, Credit: Blue Origin.
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