Blue Origin's Glenn Rocket: Super-Heavy Variant Revealed

Blue Origin Unveils Designs for a Super-Heavy New Glenn Rocket

Following a successful second flight of its new mega rocket, Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, has presented the designs for an even more powerful launch system.

The redesigned New Glenn will surpass the height of the iconic Saturn V rocket and rival SpaceX’s Starship in size.

Enhanced Engine Configuration

This super-heavy iteration of New Glenn will incorporate nine of the company’s proprietary rocket engines on its booster stage, alongside four engines on the upper stage.

This represents an increase from the seven and two engines, respectively, found in the current New Glenn version, which Blue Origin confirms will continue operational alongside its larger counterpart.

The company now distinguishes between the two versions as New Glenn 9×4 and New Glenn 7×2.

Increased Payload Capacity

The augmented engine power will elevate the New Glenn booster’s overall thrust, enabling it to deliver “over 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit.”

This capacity is slightly below the current theoretical maximum of SpaceX’s Starship, which stands at 100 metric tons.

However, SpaceX is actively developing Starship variants that could potentially double this figure.

Expanded Payload Fairing

The larger New Glenn will also feature a significantly expanded fairing – the protective shield encompassing the rocket’s payload.

This enhancement will accommodate larger payloads, positioning Blue Origin to compete for missions involving “mega-constellations, lunar and deep space explorations, and national security imperatives such as Golden Dome.”

Lunar Ambitions

Blue Origin is currently vying with SpaceX for contracts related to NASA’s lunar missions.

The company’s recent rendering of New Glenn 9×4 subtly highlights this ambition.

The illustration depicts a ground-level view of the super-heavy rocket shortly after liftoff, with an unusually prominent moon visible above.

Updates to the New Glenn 7×2

The 7×2 version of New Glenn has also undergone improvements.

Its total thrust has been increased, and it will now incorporate reusable fairings.

Additional, smaller upgrades have been implemented to expedite the turnaround time between launches, as stated by Blue Origin.

Launch Timeline

While a definitive launch date remains unconfirmed, current projections indicate early 2026.

Furthermore, CEO Dave Limp has indicated that Blue Origin may soon attempt to launch and land its uncrewed Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander on the moon.