New Glenn from Blue Origin: SpaceX's rival rocket is ready to take off!
Ignition of the NG-1's engines went smoothly, paving the way for its first firing. © Blue Origin
We told you about it on December 24 when tank fillings suggested an upcoming launch. However, two steps were missing: the ignition of the seven BE-4 engines and the very precious flight authorization from the FAA. Last Saturday, the immense New Glenn rocket, more than 80 m high, saw its engines roar and administrative authorization has fallen. This allows Blue Origin to carry out orbital missions with the New Glenn (NG-1) from Cape Canaveral (Florida), with a potential landing of the reusable first stage on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean. The authorization is even valid for five years, the space company having met all safety and environmental requirements.
Here is the video of this famous last crucial step before the first flight:
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and boss of Blue Origin, celebrated the event on “next stop launch” (next stop, shooting).
Two BE-4 engines powerful enough for an aircraft carrier!
24 short seconds is the time during which the seven BE-4 liquid oxygen (LOX) and methane (LNG) engines were tested. To get an idea of the power of these engines, Dave Limp, general manager of Blue Origin, recalls that two of them can deliver sufficient thrust to propel a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, one of the most powerful ships in the world. war in the world.
The FAA having issued its authorization, the aerospace community expects a first flight very quickly. No date has been announced, but some are whispering an attempt as early as the first week of January 2025, perhaps between the 4th and the 7th in order to make a big impact.
Remember that Blue Origin wants to attempt the landing of the first stage from this first flight, with its recovery on the Jacklyn barge (named after Jeff Bezos' mother). This is why this first floor was named “So you tell me there is a chance”which is a line from Jim Carrey in the comedy Dumb & Dumber.
If this test is transformed and the first stage is recovered as hoped, it could be reused up to 25 times.
And the payload?
The payload of a rocket is what it is intended to launch into space, for example a satellite. For the first test of its Falcon HeavyElon Musk sent a Tesla Roadster into a heliocentric elliptical orbit on February 6, 2018. As far as Blue Origin is concerned, the real payload will be the Blue Ringa prototype orbital platform dedicated to supplying, transporting and hosting satellites to geostationary orbits, cislunar, or even lunar or interplanetary space destinations.
The Blue Ring being installed in the fairing of the NG-1. © Blue Origin
Morality, the space race of private companies is well underway.
