Insider Brief
- Blue Origin is preparing for the inaugural flight of its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket that could occur as early as January 6 at 1AM EST.
- While the company has not publicly announced a launch date, sources say that an FAA alert to pilots states the launch window for New Glenn will be open from January 6 – 12.
- The launch will take place from Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Blue Origin is preparing for the inaugural flight of its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket, following a successful 24-second static fire test on December 27. While the company has not publicly announced a launch date, sources say that an FAA alert to pilots states the launch window for New Glenn will be open from January 6 – 12, with some reports saying the company is targeting Wednesday, January 8, at 1:00 a.m. EST (06:00 UTC) for liftoff. The launch will take place from Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The upcoming flight will also feature a recovery attempt of the rocket’s first stage booster, nicknamed “So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance,” according to reports. Blue Origin plans to land the booster on its recovery vessel, Jacklyn, stationed downrange in the Atlantic Ocean. This marks the company’s first attempt to recover an orbital-class booster using propulsive landing technology.
Standing 98 meters tall and measuring seven meters in diameter, the two-stage New Glenn rocket is powered by seven BE-4 engines. These engines, which run on liquid methane and liquid oxygen, generate a combined thrust of 17,150 kN at liftoff. Notably, the BE-4 engines are also used on United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket.
New Glenn’s capabilities include lifting 45,000 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) or 13,000 kg to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). Originally, the rocket’s maiden flight was slated to carry NASA’s Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission, which aims to study Mars’ magnetosphere. However, that mission has been rescheduled to spring 2025 and will now fly as New Glenn’s third mission.
Image credit: Blue Origin
Share this article:
