Blue Origin
Blue Origin’s New Glenn space rocket is now vertical for the first time
Blue Origin’s New Glenn space rocket is now vertical on the launch pad at Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) for the first time. This new milestone is the aftermath of an earlier roll-out of the vehicle to its destination.
This is the first real hardware of New Glenn and the vertical pose shows its key milestone to attempt the first launch later this year.
Named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, New Glenn is a heavy-lift space launch vehicle. It aims to support launches for Blue Origin’s future missions including the anticipated NASA Artemis program.
It also poses a challenge to SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy launch vehicle, which is by far the most advanced rocket on the planet (after Starship) containing two reusable Falcon 9 side boosters.
Tests and Preparations:
The vertical mount will allow Blue Origin teams to practice, verify, and increase efficiency in vehicle integration, transport, ground support, and launch preparations. To be mentioned, the vehicle doesn’t have an engine running during these tests because it is already under igniting on a separate test site.
Earlier this month, Blue Origin published a BE-4 engine hot-fire test video at the Test Stand 4670 in Huntsville and Launch Site One in West Texas. The engine produced 550,000 pounds of thrust during the initial test results.
Back in December, the company transported the first-stage module from the factory to the integration facility nine miles away. The latest round of tests will be wrapped up in the next few weeks and includes:
- Cryogenic Fluid Load
- Pressure Control
- Vehicle’s Venting Systems
There could be other minor tests that may be conducted alongside. Blue Origin says that the launch pad and ground systems are already completed and will be used during this series of tests.
New Glenn:
This space vehicle is 98 meters tall and its first stage could fly up to 25 missions. Its first stage uses seven BE-4 engines loaded with liquid oxygen (LOX)/Liquid natural gas (LNG) engines. It is reusable and allows the first stage to land on a sea-based platform similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9.
Blue Origin confirmed that there are several New Glenn vehicles currently in production based on the customer launch contracts and future missions.
(source – BlueOrigin)
