Blue Origin has taken significant strides toward launching its New Glenn rocket, marking a milestone with the recent placement of the fully integrated, flight-capable rocket on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This event signals the company’s commitment to advancing to its inaugural launch, as it prepares for final testing before the big day.
On Thursday evening, the New Glenn rocket was carefully rolled out of the hangar at Launch Complex 36 (LC-36). This towering rocket stands at 98 meters tall (approximately 320 feet), and its sheer size is topped off by the massive steel launch table it rests on, weighing about 1.7 million pounds (around 726 metric tons). Blue Origin’s CEO, Dave Limp, celebrated the milestone on social media, sharing, "Up we go!" indicating the excitement surrounding this pivotal moment.
Looking forward, Blue Origin’s plan includes conducting an integrated static fire test—not just any test, but the initial opportunity to fuel the completely assembled New Glenn rocket. Although the exact timing of this test has not been disclosed, it takes on added importance since it will serve as the first full-fledged trial of the rocket.
The company previously executed static fire tests of only the upper stage, which successfully showcased the operation of its two BE-3U engines. The upcoming test will focus on several key systems integrated within the rocket. According to Blue Origin, these include the tank pressurization control system, which employs helium to keep liquid hydrogen and oxygen tanks pressurized during flight, the thrust vector control system for steering the rocket, and the startup and shutdown processes for the BE-3U systems, which are capable of restarting multiple times during missions.
While excitement builds around the New Glenn's maiden voyage, upcoming deadlines loom. Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and the previously aimed November launch date may be pushed to December at the earliest. A revised target date has yet to be announced, leaving enthusiasts on the edge of their seats. Originally, the first New Glenn mission was set to carry NASA’s dual satellites, the EscaPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers), on a mission to Mars. Yet, due to delays, NASA has shifted this mission to 2025.
Instead of the planned NASA payload, Blue Origin now proposes to launch its innovative Blue Ring technology. This system is touted as providing comprehensive services, from hosting and transportation to refueling and data relay, even incorporating features for ‘in-space’ edge computing capabilities. Such technological advancements signify Blue Origin's broader vision for space exploration and commercial activity.
Back in March of 2024, Blue Origin put forth another initiative called DarkSky-1 (DS-1), which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Innovation Unit. This mission aims to demonstrate various flight systems, including telemetry, tracking, command hardware, and space-based processing capabilities. Despite the intriguing developments surrounding the Blue Ring, the company has yet to confirm whether the technology will fly on the upcoming New Glenn mission, NG-1. unclear if this launch will satisfy the mandates of the DS-1 mission, indicating the complexity and layers involved with space projects and military contracts.
Concerning national security missions, the paths to certification for New Glenn remain somewhat murky. A precedent has been set by the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, which had to accomplish two successful certification flights before being allowed to undertake missions for the U.S. Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office. Such hurdles highlight the rigorous standards and extensive scrutiny associated with launching payloads for national security purposes.
For Blue Origin, this week has been particularly eventful. Hot on the heels of maneuvering its New Glenn rocket to the pad, the company also executed its ninth suborbital astronaut mission using its New Shepard rocket just the next day. The mission, dubbed NS-28, launched from Launch Site 1 near Van Horn, Texas, at 9:30 AM CST. The crew capsule, named R.S.S. First Step, accomplished a successful landing at around 9:40 AM CST after reaching impressive heights of 347,661 feet above ground level.
Among the six crew members on NS-28 was engineer and STEM educator Emily Caladrelli, who made her inaugural trip above the Karman Line, the internationally recognized line marking the beginning of space. Her experience was nothing short of euphoric. Talking to Blue Origin’s team post-flight, she expressed, "That kick in your pants from separation is wild. It is wild. I had to tell my brain, like, this is normal, like, this is expected, it’s supposed to be a kick in the pants," reflecting the thrill and disbelief many feel when experiencing space.
Caladrelli elaborated on her experience, saying, “Oh my gosh, and when we got to weightlessness, I immediately turned upside down and looked at the planet, and then there was so much blackness, there was so much space! I didn’t expect to see so much space!” Sharing her emotional moment, she added, “And I kept saying, like, ‘that’s our planet (tearing up). That’s our planet.' It was just beautiful (tears). Oh my God.” Her words reveal the wonder and awe felt by those who have ventured beyond Earth’s confines.
The NS-28 mission marked Blue Origin’s 28th New Shepard launch, with the company boasting having sent 47 individuals to space, including four who made the trip twice, among them the company’s founder, Jeff Bezos. While Blue Origin has shown remarkable consistency and success with its suborbital missions, the price tag for seats aboard the New Shepard is not publicly advertised, leading to speculations about the exclusivity and cost of such spaceflights.
Meanwhile, as Blue Origin progresses with its projects and prepares for future leap forwards, they continue to innovate and expand. The path for New Glenn appears bright yet challenging, with expectations to deliver on its promises amid the competition from established players like SpaceX. The goals set for upcoming missions indicate Blue Origin's drive to pave new pathways toward regular and accessible space travel.
