Blue Origin has successfully completed a major test of its orbital-class New Glenn rocket in preparation for its first launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The company CEO, Dave Limp, announced that the rocket has passed its last major test and is close to being ready for launch. The test, known as an integrated vehicle hotfire, involved firing all seven of the first-stage BE-4 engines simultaneously for 24 seconds while the booster was held down on the pad.
The Federal Aviation Administration granted Blue Origin a five-year license for New Glenn launches and landings just hours before the hotfire test. This license paves the way for the first official launch of the New Glenn rocket, which has been in development for over a decade. The inaugural launch will carry the Blue Ring Pathfinder, a demonstrator spacecraft designed to test the communications, power, and control systems for the company’s Blue Ring space mobility platform.
The BE-4 engines of the New Glenn rocket are capable of generating 3.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, which is half the thrust produced by the Saturn V rocket during the Apollo era. This impressive power is enough to propel two Nimitz-class aircraft carriers at full tilt. Blue Origin’s senior vice president for New Glenn, Jarrett Jones, described the hotfire test as a monumental milestone and a promising sign of what is to come for the rocket’s first launch.
Blue Origin has multiple New Glenn vehicles already in production at its Florida factory and has a full customer manifest for launches in the near future. High-profile missions include satellite launches for Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband constellation and NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars. The first launch of the New Glenn rocket will also be part of the certification process for the U.S. Space Force’s National Security Space Launch program, highlighting the rocket’s potential role in supporting national security initiatives.
The successful completion of the integrated vehicle hotfire test marks a significant step forward for Blue Origin and its New Glenn rocket. The test demonstrated that the rocket’s engines and systems are functioning as intended, prompting confidence in the upcoming first launch. Blue Origin’s commitment to rigorous testing and engineering excellence has been validated by the success of today’s test, setting the stage for future milestones in the development and deployment of the New Glenn rocket.
Overall, the New Glenn rocket’s progress towards its first launch signifies a major achievement for Blue Origin and its efforts to expand access to space. With the completion of key tests and the issuance of necessary licenses, the company is well-positioned to begin orbital flights and commercial missions in the months ahead. The first launch of the New Glenn rocket will serve as a crucial step in demonstrating its capabilities and reliability for future missions, including those supporting national security and space exploration initiatives.
