Blue Origin's biggest rocket, New Glenn, to launch by year-end
What's the story
Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos's space exploration company, has announced that it is ready to launch the New Glenn rocket before 2024 ends. However, the final crucial test of this massive rocket is still pending regulatory approval. The test, called a "hot fire," involves igniting all seven BE-4 engines of the first stage to full thrust while the rocket sits on the launch pad. This is meant to simulate actual lift-off conditions.
Vision
New Glenn's role in Bezos's vision for space industry
The successful completion of hot fire test is critical for Blue Origin's future plans. If everything goes well, the company will move ahead with integrating the fairing, which carries the payload. This is the last step before launch. Bezos has stressed New Glenn is key to his plan of cutting launch costs enough to move all polluting industries into orbit. He revealed this during an interview at The New York Times's Dealbook Summit.
Capabilities
Comparison with other rockets
Standing tall at 320 feet, the New Glenn rocket is capable of lifting up to 45 metric tons (44,996kg) to low Earth orbit (LEO). This makes it more powerful than United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur and SpaceX's Falcon Heavy in its reusable form. However, it lags behind SpaceX's Starship, the biggest rocket ever constructed, which can lift between 100-150 metric tons to LEO.
Profitability
New Glenn's impact on Blue Origin's profitability
The successful operation of New Glenn is considered to be a key element in making Blue Origin a profitable venture. Although the company's financials are private, Bezos has hinted at his hopes for it to become his biggest business venture yet. He said, "I think it's going to be the best business that I've ever been involved in, but it's going to take a while."
Inaugural mission
New Glenn's inaugural mission and future plans
New Glenn's first mission was supposed to carry a pair of high-profile satellites to Mars for NASA during a launch window that opened this October. However, with potential delays, NASA has pushed this mission to another New Glenn launch in spring 2025. Now, the NG-1 mission will test a demonstrator payload for Blue Origin's Blue Ring orbital transfer vehicle.
Certification
Blue Origin's certification launches and regulatory hurdles
The maiden flight of New Glenn will also be the first of two certification launches, that Blue Origin needs to start transporting national security payloads under the US Space Force's National Security Space Launch program. However, before any of this can happen, Blue Origin will have to get regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Only after these permissions can the company launch the rocket from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.