Following the success of New Glenn\u2019s second test flight, Blue Origin announced a super-heavy variant of its rocket that could compete with SpaceX\u2019s Starship.<\/p>\n
Jeff Bezos\u2019 rocket company unveiled<\/a> the new design for its rocket, named New Glenn 9\u00d74 for the number of engines it boasts on the booster and upper stage. That\u2019s an increase of two engines for each stage from New Glenn\u2019s current design, which features seven engines on the booster and two on the upper stage.<\/p>\n \u201cThe next chapter in New Glenn\u2019s roadmap is a new super-heavy class rocket,\u201d Blue Origin wrote in a statement. The company recently launched New Glenn for its second mission<\/a>, sending NASA\u2019s ESCAPADE mission on its way to Mars. Although Blue Origin didn\u2019t specify when it would start launching the larger variant of New Glenn, the rocket has a packed schedule for 2026 and 2027.<\/p>\n Onto bigger things <\/p>\n Blue Origin debuted its New Glenn rocket in January<\/a> after years of delays. The rocket\u2019s inaugural flight didn\u2019t go so smoothly, with the company failing to recover the booster during its descent. An investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration laid out seven corrective measures for the rocket to fly again, and its second mission was a major success for the company.<\/p>\n Now, Blue Origin is focusing on going bigger. Outfitted with nine engines on the booster and four on the upper stage, the added thrust will allow the new New Glenn to lift more than 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, over 14 metric tons directly to geosynchronous orbit, and over 20 metric tons to trans-lunar injection. That\u2019s way below Starship\u2019s capability of carrying up to 150 metric tons to low Earth orbit, but it\u2019s a powerful launch vehicle nonetheless.<\/p>\n The upgraded New Glenn will also feature a larger 28.5-foot (8.7-meter) fairing to allow for bigger payloads. \u201cBoth vehicles: 9\u00d74 and our current variant, 7\u00d72, will serve the market concurrently, giving customers more launch options for their missions, including mega-constellations, lunar and deep space exploration, and national security imperatives such as Golden Dome,\u201d Blue Origin wrote.<\/p>\n Because you asked\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/HRbQjRpHWC<\/a><\/p>\n