Blue Origin prepares New Glenn for maiden launch

Written by Copernical Team Monday, 26 February 2024 18:17

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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 26, 2024

Blue Origin marked a significant milestone in its space exploration endeavors with the first rollout and vertical positioning of its New Glenn rocket at Launch Complex 36 (LC-36). This event unveils the advanced heavy-lift vehicle to the public, showcasing its capability to support a wide range of missions, including contributions to NASA's Artemis program for lunar exploration. The New Gl

Blue Origin prepares New Glenn for maiden launch
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Feb 26, 2024

Blue Origin marked a significant milestone in its space exploration endeavors with the first rollout and vertical positioning of its New Glenn rocket at Launch Complex 36 (LC-36). This event unveils the advanced heavy-lift vehicle to the public, showcasing its capability to support a wide range of missions, including contributions to NASA's Artemis program for lunar exploration.

The New Glenn, named in honor of John Glenn, the pioneering astronaut who became the first American to orbit Earth, has now demonstrated its tangible presence on the launch pad. "Everything on the pad is real New Glenn hardware," Blue Origin announced, highlighting the authenticity and readiness of the systems involved. The rocket's introduction at the pad follows a series of integrated test milestones aimed at preparing for its inaugural launch later this year.

These preparatory steps, excluding engine tests-which are concurrently undergoing hotfire tests at the historic 4670 Test Stand in Huntsville and Launch Site One in West Texas-involve vehicle integration, transport, and launch operations. The tests are critical for ensuring the team's proficiency in handling the rocket's complex systems, particularly focusing on cryogenic fluid loading, pressure control, and venting systems.

The journey of New Glenn to this point began in December, with the transport of the first-stage modules from Blue Origin's factory to the Integration Facility. The campaign will culminate in the upcoming weeks, setting the stage for the rocket's first launch.

Standing over 320 feet (98 meters) tall, New Glenn's design includes a seven-meter payload fairing, offering double the volume of typical five-meter class commercial launch systems. This capacity allows for the accommodation of large payloads, equivalent to the size of three school buses. Furthermore, the rocket's reusable first stage, designed to land on a sea-based platform after launch, underscores Blue Origin's commitment to sustainability and cost-efficiency in space launches, aiming for a minimum of 25 missions per stage.

Powering New Glenn are seven BE-4 engines, heralded as the most potent liquid oxygen (LOX) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines developed since the era of the Saturn V's F1 engines. The choice of LNG as a fuel not only enhances performance but also aligns with environmental considerations by offering a cleaner-burning alternative to kerosene-based rocket fuels.

Blue Origin has emphasized the breadth of New Glenn's mission capabilities and its growing list of customers, which includes prominent names such as NASA, Project Kuiper, Telesat, and Eutelsat. The company is also in the process of certifying New Glenn with the U.S. Space Force for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, reflecting its potential to meet critical national security objectives.