Following a successful second flight of its New Glenn mega-rocket, Jeff Bezos' space venture, Blue Origin, has unveiled plans for an even larger, super-heavy variant of the launch system. This upgraded New Glenn is designed to surpass the historic Saturn V rocket in height and rival SpaceX's Starship in capability, marking a significant step in the company's space ambitions.
Introducing the New Glenn 9x4
The new super-heavy version, designated New Glenn 9x4, will feature nine of Blue Origin's powerful rocket engines on its booster stage and four on its upper stage. This represents a substantial increase from the current New Glenn 7x2 configuration, which uses seven booster engines and two upper-stage engines. Blue Origin has confirmed that the 7x2 variant will continue to operate alongside the new, more powerful model.
This enhanced engine configuration will significantly boost New Glenn's total thrust, enabling it to deliver over 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit (LEO). While this capacity is slightly less than SpaceX Starship's current theoretical 100-metric-ton capability, it positions Blue Origin competitively, especially as Starship itself is undergoing upgrades aimed at doubling its payload capacity.
A much larger fairing, the protective shield for the rocket's payload, will also be integrated into the New Glenn 9x4 to accommodate bigger cargo. This expanded capability positions Blue Origin for critical missions, including deploying massive satellite mega-constellations, facilitating lunar and deep space explorations, and supporting national security initiatives such as "Golden Dome."
Teasing Lunar Ambitions
Blue Origin is actively vying with SpaceX for contracts related to NASA's ambitious lunar missions. The company subtly underscored these aspirations in a recently released rendering of the New Glenn 9x4. The illustration depicts the super-heavy rocket shortly after takeoff, with an unusually prominent Moon appearing in the background, hinting at its future role in lunar exploration.
Updates to the Existing New Glenn 7x2
The existing New Glenn 7x2 variant has also received several upgrades. Its total thrust has been increased, and it will now incorporate reusable fairings, a key feature for reducing operational costs. According to Blue Origin, additional minor upgrades were implemented to reduce the turnaround time between launches, enhancing efficiency.
Future Outlook
While a specific date for the next New Glenn launch remains unconfirmed, it is tentatively scheduled for early 2026. According to CEO Dave Limp, Blue Origin might soon attempt to launch and land its uncrewed Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander on the Moon, further demonstrating its commitment to lunar exploration.
