Blue Origin Expands New Glenn Rocket Design to Compete with SpaceX

Blue Origin has unveiled a new super-heavy variant of its New Glenn rocket, named New Glenn 9×4, designed to enhance its competitiveness against SpaceX’s Starship. This announcement follows the successful second test flight of New Glenn, which recently facilitated NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars. The upgraded rocket will feature nine engines on the booster and four on the upper stage, an increase from the current model, which has seven engines on the booster and two on the upper stage.

The company stated, “The next chapter in New Glenn’s roadmap is a new super-heavy class rocket.” Although Blue Origin has not disclosed the specific timeline for launching this enhanced variant, the rocket is positioned for a busy schedule in 2026 and 2027.

New Glenn’s Evolution and Capabilities

Blue Origin first introduced the New Glenn rocket in January after facing several delays. Its inaugural flight was not without challenges; the company was unable to recover the booster during its descent. An investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified seven corrective measures needed before the rocket could fly again. The subsequent second mission, however, marked a significant success for Blue Origin.

The New Glenn 9×4’s increased thrust capacity will enable it to lift over 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, more than 14 metric tons to geosynchronous orbit, and over 20 metric tons for trans-lunar injection. While this launch capability falls below SpaceX’s Starship, which can carry up to 150 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, the New Glenn remains a formidable contender in the launch vehicle market.

Additionally, the upgraded New Glenn will feature a larger fairing, measuring 28.5 feet (8.7 meters), accommodating bigger payloads than its predecessor.

Market Impact and Future Outlook

According to Blue Origin, both the New Glenn 9×4 and the current 7×2 variant will operate concurrently, providing customers with a wider range of launch options. This flexibility is particularly relevant for missions involving mega-constellations, lunar exploration, deep space endeavors, and national security initiatives, such as the Golden Dome project.

Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, highlighted the significance of the New Glenn 9×4 through an illustration that compares its height to the iconic Saturn V rocket, which was instrumental in NASA’s Apollo missions to the Moon. This visual representation underscores the ambitious scale of Blue Origin’s new rocket.

The successful second flight of New Glenn has established its potential in the orbital launch sector. With the introduction of the super-heavy variant, Blue Origin aims to enhance its competitive stance against SpaceX, striving to secure a more significant share of the growing commercial space launch industry.