Blue Origin Unveils Ambitious Plans for New Glenn Rocket Expansion

Blue Origin has announced significant advancements in its heavy-lift launch vehicle, the New Glenn rocket, following a successful mission on November 13, 2023. This second launch, designated NG-2, featured a payload for NASA’s ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration Dynamics Explorers) mission, which aims to explore solar wind interactions with Mars. The successful retrieval of the rocket’s first stage marked a key milestone in the company’s goal of achieving partial reusability.

Following this launch, Blue Origin outlined its future plans for the New Glenn, focusing on structural enhancements and upgrades in propulsion, avionics, reusability, and recovery. The company intends to develop a “super-heavy” variant of the New Glenn, which would position it as a competitor to SpaceX’s Starship.

Enhanced Propulsion and Performance Goals

The New Glenn currently utilizes seven BE-4 booster engines, producing a thrust of 2,400 kN (550,000 lbf) at sea level. Upcoming enhancements will boost each of these engines to deliver 2,847 kN (642,850 lbf), resulting in an overall thrust of 19,928 kN (4.5 million lbf). Blue Origin has indicated that it has successfully demonstrated capabilities of up to 2,780 kN (625,000 lbf) in testing.

The company is also upgrading its BE-3U thrusters, which power the upper stage of the rocket. The new thrusters are expected to provide 1,779 kN (400,000 lbf) of thrust, an increase from the original design of 1,423 kN (320,000 lbf). The first phase of these enhancements is anticipated to be implemented in the next launch, NG-3, while the improved BE-3U thrusters will be integrated over subsequent missions.

In addition to propulsion enhancements, the planned super-heavy version, referred to as the New Glenn 9×4, will feature a larger payload fairing measuring 8.7 meters (approximately 28 feet) in diameter, compared to the current 7-meter (23-foot) fairing. This upgraded vehicle will be capable of delivering 70 metric tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), 14 metric tons to Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO), and 20 metric tons to a Trans-Lunar Injection (TLI), which means missions to the Moon.

Strategic Positioning in a Competitive Market

Blue Origin is positioning itself for the expanding satellite launch market, projected to reach a valuation of $35.95 billion by 2030. The company plans to launch both enhanced and super-heavy versions of the New Glenn rocket to improve performance and launch frequency. In recent years, numerous commercial launch providers have emerged, challenging SpaceX’s dominance in the sector.

Additionally, Blue Origin is set to offer crew and payload services for NASA’s Artemis Program, specifically for the Artemis V and VI missions. While future missions remain uncertain beyond Artemis III, the agency’s budget proposals for fiscal year 2026 suggest potential shifts in its reliance on commercial partners for launch and crewed spacecraft needs.

Acting NASA Director Sean Duffy has indicated that the agency will seek competitive bids for a Human Landing System (HLS) due to delays in the development of SpaceX’s Starship. This opens further opportunities for Blue Origin to secure contracts for deep space exploration missions, much like the ESCAPADE project, as well as national security initiatives such as the Golden Dome program.

As Blue Origin continues to enhance its capabilities and position itself in the market, the company remains committed to pushing the boundaries of space exploration and technology.