Sylvie Willis
The New Glenn is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed and operated by the American company Blue Origin. The rocket is designed to have a partially reusable, two-stage design. The first stage is powered by seven BE-4 engines, while the second stage relies on two BE-3U engines, all designed and built in-house by Blue Origin. The first stage is fuelled by liquid oxygen and liquid methane, with a liquid oxygen propellant tank volume of 30,000 cu ft (850 m3) and a fuel tank capacity of almost 25,000 cu ft (710 m3) of liquid methane. The second stage is powered by liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Height | 320 feet (98 meters) |
| First Stage Engines | 7 BE-4 methane/oxygen engines |
| First Stage Thrust | 17,000 kN (3,800,000 lbf) |
| First Stage Fuel Tank Volume | 25,000 cu ft (710 m3) of liquid methane |
| First Stage Oxygen Tank Volume | 30,000 cu ft (850 m3) |
| Second Stage Engines | 2 BE-3U vacuum-optimized engines |
| Second Stage Fuel | Hydrogen/Oxygen |
| Second Stage Thrust | 320,000 lbf |
| Third Stage Engine | BE-3U engine (cancelled) |
| Payload Fairing Diameter | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Payload Capacity | 13,000 kg (29,000 lb) to GTO |
| Payload Capacity | 45,000 kg (99,000 lb) to a 51.6° inclined LEO |
| Orbital Height | 19,300 km maximum |
| Orbital Height | 2,400 km minimum |
| Launch Site | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida |
| Launch Complex | 36 |
| Manufacturer | Blue Origin |
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What You'll Learn
The first stage of New Glenn is powered by seven BE-4 engines
The New Glenn is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed and operated by the American company Blue Origin. Standing at 320 feet (98 meters) tall, it is designed to carry payloads to multiple orbits. The rocket is named after NASA astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth.
The BE-4 engines are the most powerful liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled, oxygen-rich staged combustion engines ever flown. LNG is a cleaner-burning and higher-performing fuel compared to traditional rocket fuels like kerosene. The liquid oxygen propellant tank on the first stage of New Glenn has a volume of 30,000 cu ft (850 m3), while the fuel tank can store almost 25,000 cu ft (710 m3) of liquid methane.
The seven-engine configuration of the first stage has been successfully tested, with all engines performing nominally during a 24-second firing, including at 100% thrust for 13 seconds. This test also demonstrated New Glenn's autogenous pressurization system, which self-generates gases to pressurize the propellant tanks.
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The BE-4 engines are fuelled by liquid oxygen and methane
The New Glenn is a 7-meter-diameter, two-stage orbital launch vehicle with a reusable first stage and an expendable second stage. The first stage is powered by seven BE-4 engines, while the second stage relies on two BE-3U engines, all designed and built in-house by Blue Origin. The BE-4 engines are fuelled by liquid oxygen and methane.
The BE-4 (Blue Engine 4) is a liquid rocket engine developed by Blue Origin. It uses liquefied methane fuel and operates on an oxygen-rich staged combustion cycle. The engine produces 2,400 kN (550,000 lbf) of thrust at sea level. The BE-4 is designed for long life and high reliability and aims to be a "medium-performing version of a high-performance architecture".
The first stage of the New Glenn has a liquid oxygen propellant tank with a volume of 30,000 cubic feet (850 cubic meters) and a fuel tank that can store almost 25,000 cubic feet (710 cubic meters) of liquid methane. The vehicle's seven BE-4 engines generate over 3.8 million lbf of thrust.
The second stage of the New Glenn is powered by two BE-3U engines, which use liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen as propellants. The second stage is roughly 88 feet (26.8 meters) tall and is expendable, while the first stage is designed to be reusable for a minimum of 25 flights.
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The second stage of New Glenn is powered by two BE-3U engines
The New Glenn is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed and operated by the American company Blue Origin. Standing at 320 feet (98 meters) tall, it is designed to have a partially reusable, two-stage design. The rocket is named after NASA astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth.
The second stage of the New Glenn is powered by two BE-3U engines, which are fuelled by liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. The BE-3U engines are designed to yield over 320,000 lbf of vacuum thrust. The "'U'" at the end of the engine name indicates that changes were made for it to better operate in the vacuum of space. The second stage of the New Glenn is not reusable.
The BE-3U engines were first announced in September 2017, when Blue Origin announced an increase in the payload fairing for the New Glenn from 5.4m to 7m in diameter. This larger fairing would be facilitated by the use of two BE-3U engines on the second stage, with a single BE-3U engine on the third stage. However, the three-stage booster variant was cancelled in January 2019.
The BE-3U engines were put through rigorous testing before their first launch, including a multi-day campaign of inert functional and tanking tests. The tanking test included a full run-through of the terminal count sequence, testing the hand-off authority to and from the flight computer, and collecting fluid validation data. The second stage tanks were filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to representative New Glenn set points.
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The BE-3U engines are fuelled by liquid oxygen and hydrogen
The New Glenn is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed and operated by the American company Blue Origin. Standing at over 320 feet (98 meters) tall, the rocket is designed to have a partially reusable, two-stage design. The first stage is powered by seven BE-4 engines, while the second stage is powered by two BE-3U engines.
The BE-3U engine was projected to have a vacuum thrust of 670 kN (150,000 lbf) in 2015. This projection increased over time as the engine underwent development and testing. By February 2020, Blue Origin had opened a factory in Huntsville, Alabama, dedicated to producing BE-3U engines, and in August 2024, Jeff Bezos announced that the BE-3U's thrust had been uprated to 765 kN (172,000 lbf). This figure was later revised to 770 kN (173,000 lbf) and then again to 778 kN (175,000 lbf) following a static fire test in April 2025.
The BE-3U engines used in the New Glenn rocket are designed to yield over 320,000 lbf of vacuum thrust. The second stage of the New Glenn, which houses the BE-3U engines, underwent an integrated launch vehicle hotfire test in December 2024. This test marked the first time Blue Origin operated the entire flight vehicle as an integrated system. The test was successful and demonstrated the functionality of New Glenn's autogenous pressurization system, which self-generates gases to pressurize the propellant tanks.
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LNG/LOX fill for GS1 was tested in December 2024
The New Glenn is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed and operated by the American company Blue Origin. The rocket is designed to have a partially reusable, two-stage design. The first stage (GS1) is powered by seven BE-4 engines, while the second stage (GS2) relies on two BE-3U engines. The rocket's first stage is reusable, with a minimum of 25 missions, and will land on Jacklyn, a sea-based platform located several hundred miles downrange.
In December 2024, Blue Origin conducted a tanking test as part of the integrated launch vehicle hotfire test campaign for the New Glenn rocket. This test campaign represented the final major milestone before the rocket's first flight. During the tanking test, the first stage (GS1) tanks were filled and pressurised with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LOX). This marked the first LNG/LOX fill for GS1 and was one of several firsts achieved during the test campaign, including the first seven-engine operations and the first integrated GS1-GS2 tanking demonstration.
The LNG/LOX fill for GS1 was a critical step in preparing the New Glenn rocket for its inaugural launch. The tanking test allowed engineers to validate the launch procedures and ensure the proper functioning of the engines and associated systems. The LNG and LOX propellants are crucial for powering the seven BE-4 engines of the first stage, which produce a liftoff thrust of 17,000 kN (3,800,000 lbf).
The successful completion of the LNG/LOX fill for GS1, along with the other milestones achieved during the test campaign, provided confidence in the readiness of the New Glenn rocket for its maiden flight. This comprehensive testing process is indicative of Blue Origin's rigorous approach to testing and ensuring the reliability and safety of their launch vehicles.
The New Glenn rocket, with its powerful and innovative engine systems, is designed to offer improved performance and cost-efficiency. The use of LNG as a cleaner-burning and higher-performing fuel contributes to these advancements, positioning the New Glenn rocket as a significant player in the space launch industry.
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Frequently asked questions
The New Glenn's first stage is powered by 17,000 kN (3,800,000 lbf) of liftoff thrust. It has a liquid oxygen propellant tank volume of 30,000 cu ft (850 m3) and a fuel tank capacity of almost 25,000 cu ft (710 m3) of liquid methane.
The New Glenn's first stage is powered by seven BE-4 methane/oxygen engines.
The New Glenn's second stage is powered by two BE-3U engines, which use hydrogen and oxygen as propellants.
Hydrogen, the fuel used in the second stage, is much more efficient than traditional rocket fuels like RP-1, a highly refined form of kerosene.
LNG (liquefied natural gas) is a cleaner-burning and higher-performing fuel than kerosene-based options.
