Blue Origin’s highly anticipated New Glenn rocket has reached a major milestone as it went vertical on the launch pad for testing. This significant step brings the company one step closer to its debut flight, which is expected to take place later this year. The New Glenn rocket was rolled out onto Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday, according to an announcement by Blue Origin, the spaceflight company founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos.
In the coming weeks and months, the New Glenn rocket will undergo a series of tests and demonstrations to assess its performance. Blue Origin officials stated that these tests will include evaluations of cryogenic fluid loading, pressure control, and the vehicle’s venting systems. These crucial assessments will ensure that the rocket is ready for its inaugural flight.
Standing at an impressive height of approximately 322 feet (98 meters), the New Glenn rocket has the capability to transport around 50 tons (45 metric tons) to low Earth orbit. This makes it Blue Origin’s first orbital rocket, as the company currently operates a smaller vehicle called New Shepard, which is used for suborbital space flights.
One of the most exciting features of the New Glenn rocket is its lifting capacity, which is expected to be twice that of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. Additionally, like the Falcon 9, the first stage of the New Glenn rocket will be reusable. This means that after launching its payload into space, the booster will return to Earth and can be used for future missions. The first stage of the New Glenn rocket will be equipped with seven BE-4 engines, which are currently undergoing hot-fire tests at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, as well as at a Blue Origin site in west Texas.
The BE-4 engines have already been put to the test during a spaceflight in January, marking the successful launch of United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan Centaur rocket. This mission sent Astrobotic’s Peregrine moon lander into space. However, a fuel leak on board the Peregrine caused it to crash back to Earth ten days after liftoff. Despite this setback, the BE-4 engines have proven their capabilities and are now being integrated into the New Glenn rocket.
The development of the New Glenn rocket has been a long and intricate process, spanning over a decade. Its initial launch date of 2020 has been postponed multiple times due to various factors. However, Blue Origin remains committed to ensuring that the rocket is fully prepared for its debut flight.
The first mission for the New Glenn rocket is currently scheduled for no earlier than August. It will aim to launch NASA’s EscaPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) Mars mission. This ambitious endeavor will involve sending two spacecraft to Mars to study the planet’s atmosphere and its interaction with solar wind. The New Glenn rocket’s powerful capabilities make it an ideal choice for this mission, as it will be able to carry the necessary equipment and instruments to conduct these groundbreaking studies.
As Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket continues its testing phase, anticipation grows for its upcoming debut flight. This powerful and innovative rocket has the potential to revolutionize space exploration with its impressive lifting capacity and reusability. With its first mission set to embark on a journey to Mars, the New Glenn rocket is poised to make its mark in the history of space exploration.