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Blue Originsays it ’s on track to set up its hulk New Glenn fomite before the year ’s end , though the company is still awaiting regulatory approval to carry on a final central test of the massive rocket .
That test , called a “ hot fire , ” involves power up all seven of the first stage ’s BE-4 engines and firing them to full thrust while the rocket sits on the domiciliation . The mental test is design to mirror how the fomite will operate during lift - off . If all run short to contrive during the hot ardour test , Blue Origin will move to mix the fairing ( the part of the rocket salad that throw the load ) as the final step before launching .
Much depends on this first test . As Blue Origin father Jeff Bezossaid in an interviewat The New York Times ’ Dealbook Summit earlier this calendar month , New Glenn is key to his visual sensation to lower the monetary value of launch enough to move all polluting industriousness into orbit : “ I know that sounds fantastical , so I beg the indulgence of this audience to wear with me for a mo , ” he aver . “ But it ’s not fantastical . This is going to happen , and we need to lower the cost of access to place low enough , and that ’s what New Glenn , our orbital fomite , is all about . ”
The 320 - foot - tall rocket engine will be capable of carrying 45 measured wads ( 99,200 pound ) to moo Earth orbit . This is more muscular than United Launch Alliance ’s Vulcan Centaur and SpaceX ’s Falcon Heavy in its recyclable configuration . For comparison , SpaceX ’s Starship , the largest skyrocket ever build , is design to carry 100 - 150 metric short ton to LEO .
In the shorter term , catch New Glenn up and running is likely key to sour Blue Origin into a profitable line . While Blue Origin ’s financials are not public , and it benefit staggeringly from Bezos ’ personal portion , the Amazon founder enounce during that same pinnacle that he anticipates it one day raise into his biggest occupation yet .
“ I think it ’s going to be the best clientele that I ’ve ever been necessitate in , but it ’s go to take a while , ” he said .
This initiative New Glenn mission was originally slated to fly a high - profile pair of satellites to Mars for NASA , for a launch window that give in October . But the blank agency ultimatelydecided to push backthat mission to another New Glenn launching in the spring of 2025 , citing possible issue that could arise should the rocket be delayed .
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rather , the NG-1 missionary post will try out a protester consignment for the caller ’s Blue Ring orbital transfer vehicle , including communications , the power organization , flight of steps figurer , and software package that will be used on next production OTVs . In a post on X , Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said the company was developing Blue Ring in reply to “ a grow requirement to quickly move and position equipment and infrastructure in multiple orbits . ”
The rocket ’s maiden flight will also be the first of two certification launching Blue Origin must nail to start fly home surety freight under the Space Force ’s National Security Space Launch program .
Before any of this can go on , however , Blue Origin must receive regulative from the Federal Aviation Administration . Only once these are in handwriting can Blue Origin establish the rocket from Florida ’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station .
