Blue Origin reveals a super-heavy variant of its New Glenn rocket that’s taller than a Saturn V

Contemporary off a very profitable second flight of its new mega rocket, Jeff Bezos’ area firm Blue Origin has simply revealed designs for a good bigger model of the launch system. The brand new-look New Glenn can be even taller than the historic Saturn V rocket and on par with SpaceX’s Starship.

This super-heavy model of New Glenn will characteristic 9 of the corporate’s rocket engines on the booster stage, and 4 on the higher stage. That’s up from seven and two, respectively, on the present model, which Blue Origin says will proceed to fly alongside the super-heavy variant. Blue Origin is now referring to the 2 variations as New Glenn 9×4 and New Glenn 7×2.

That added firepower will improve the New Glenn booster’s whole thrust and permit it to hold “over 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit,” barely under Starship’s present theoretical capability of 100 metric tons. SpaceX is engaged on new variations of Starship that might double that determine.

The bigger New Glenn will characteristic a a lot bigger fairing (the forward-facing protect that covers the rocket’s payload) to permit greater payloads on the high of the rocket. The added functionality will put Blue Origin in play for missions centered round “mega-constellations, lunar and deep area explorations, and nationwide safety imperatives corresponding to Golden Dome.”

Blue Origin is presently competing with SpaceX to assist with NASA missions to the Moon, and the corporate is clearly teasing this functionality within the rendering it launched of New Glenn 9×4 on Thursday.

The illustration reveals a theoretical view from the bottom wanting up on the new super-heavy rocket shortly after takeoff. Above the rocket, showing larger-than-usual? The Moon.

The 7×2 model of New Glenn obtained some updates on Thursday as nicely. Its whole thrust has elevated, and it’ll now characteristic reusable fairings. Different smaller upgrades had been made with a purpose to scale back the turnaround time between launches, in keeping with Blue Origin.

The corporate hasn’t set a date for the subsequent launch but, however proper now it seems to be penciled in for early 2026. According to CEO Dave Limp, Blue Origin might quickly attempt to launch and land its uncrewed Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander to the Moon.