Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos’ spaceflight company, Blue Origin, is working tirelessly to make its new rocket, the New Glenn, the most reusable and cost-effective launch system in the industry. The company has shared a video showcasing the successful testing of the New Glenn’s six landing legs, a crucial technology for reusability, which allows the rocket to be used multiple times, reducing the cost of access to space.
The New Glenn is a two-stage rocket that stands at approximately 320 feet tall, making it significantly larger than Blue Origin’s current single-stage suborbital vehicle, the New Shepard. The rocket’s capabilities will allow it to deploy Amazon’s Project Kuiper internet satellites, as well as satellites for commercial customers and other organizations, with plans to send missions to the Moon and beyond.
One of the most impressive features of the New Glenn is its reusable first stage, which will be able to return to Earth and land safely, allowing it to be used for multiple flights. This is not a new concept, as Elon Musk’s SpaceX has successfully landed its Falcon 9 rockets numerous times, also reusing them for future missions. However, Blue Origin is taking it a step further by making its rocket’s landing legs, which will emerge at the base of the rocket in the final moments before touch down, deployable and retractable, allowing for a more controlled descent.
The landing legs are designed to stow inside the rocket during flight, deploying as the booster gently touches down on a landing vessel at sea. This innovative technology is a key area for reusability, which lowers the cost of access to space, making it more accessible to a wider range of organizations and individuals.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn Aims High for Reusability and Cost Savings
The New Glenn’s debut launch is expected to take place no earlier than September 29, 2024, when it will carry NASA’s EscaPADE spacecraft to Mars. This mission will mark a significant milestone for Blue Origin and a key step in the company’s plans to make reusable rockets a standard practice in the space industry.
With the New Glenn, Blue Origin aims to revolutionize the launch industry and make space travel more accessible and affordable. By reusing its rockets, the company can reduce waste, minimize the environmental impact of launches, and make space exploration more sustainable. The success of the New Glenn will be a crucial step in achieving Bezos’ vision of a future where space travel and exploration become a reality for humanity.
Blue Origin’s commitment to reusability and cost savings is a direct challenge to its competitor, SpaceX, which has dominated the reusable rocket market for several years. The New Glenn’s capabilities and technologies will be put to the test in the coming months, and if successful, it could give Blue Origin a significant edge in the commercial launch market.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn is a game-changer for the space industry, with its reusable first stage and innovative landing legs technology. The company’s commitment to reusability and cost savings will make space travel more accessible and affordable, paving the way for a new era in space exploration and development.
