Blue Origin assembles new Glenn Rocket for upcoming first flight
Blue Origin’s highly anticipated New Glenn rocket took a major step toward its inaugural flight with the assembly of the first and second stages. The rocket, designed for heavy-duty missions, was recently docked at the Blue Origin facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Named “GS-1” and “GS-2,” the stages were combined for the first time, marking a milestone as the company readies the rocket for an initial launch, possibly in November 2024, from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Advanced design for heavy lifting capacity
The company unveiled the news on the official X handle. Standing 270 feet tall in its two-stage form, the New Glenn is a significant addition to the current lineup of heavy-lift rockets. Unlike traditional replaceable rockets, the first stage booster is fully reusable, promising to reduce launch costs and increase launch frequency. The three-stage configuration, if used, will bring the rocket’s height to 300 feet. For context, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 ranges between 60 and 70 meters tall, depending on configuration.
Blue Ring spacecraft and national security mission
The upcoming mission, known as DarkSky-1, will carry Blue Origin’s Blue Ring spacecraft platform. The flight is part of a certification test under the National Security Space Launch program, sponsored by the Defense Innovation Unit. Designed to serve as a flexible service module for satellites, the Blue Ring platform can be deployed into orbit or remain connected for longer missions. The company has promoted Blue Ring’s advanced capabilities in maneuvering in different lanes, which appeals to both commercial and government customers.
Next steps and test firing
As Blue Origin progresses with the development of New Glenn, a static fire test of the rocket’s BE-4 engines will be conducted, igniting the seven first stage engines for a preliminary test. Originally scheduled for October, the launch was postponed after NASA decided to withdraw to avoid possible cost overruns. Plans for the launch of the twin ESCAPADE Mars probes have now been postponed until 2025.
