Following the success of New Glenn’s second check flight, Blue Origin has introduced a brilliant heavy rocket able to competing with SpaceX’s Starship.
Jeff Bezos’ rocket firm announced The brand new design of the rocket was named the New Glenn 9×4 after the variety of engines mounted on the booster and higher stage. This is a rise of two engines per stage from New Glenn’s present design, which has seven engines within the booster and two engines within the higher stage.
“The following chapter in New Glenn’s roadmap is a brand new super-heavy class rocket,” Blue Origin stated in a press release. The corporate not too long ago launched New Glenn on its second mission, sending NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars. Blue Origin has not stated when it’ll start launching bigger variations of New Glenn, however the rocket has a good schedule for 2026 and 2027.
To larger issues
Blue Origin debuted the New Glenn Rocket in January after years of delays. The rocket’s first flight didn’t go so easily, because it did not retrieve its booster throughout descent. The second mission was an enormous success for the corporate, with an investigation by the US Federal Aviation Administration recommending seven corrective actions to get the rocket flying once more.
Now, Blue Origin is targeted on additional scaling. The brand new New Glenn is supplied with 9 engines within the booster and 4 within the higher stage, and the added thrust will enable it to launch greater than 70 metric tons into low Earth orbit, greater than 14 metric tons immediately into geostationary orbit, and greater than 20 metric tons throughout the Moon. Though that is far under Starship’s capability to hold as much as 150 tons into low Earth orbit, it’s nonetheless a strong launch car.
The upgraded New Glenn additionally incorporates a bigger 28.5-foot (8.7-meter) fairing to permit for higher payload. “Each the 9×4 and our present 7×2 autos will probably be delivered to market on the similar time, offering prospects with extra launch choices for missions involving giant constellations, lunar and deep house exploration, and nationwide safety priorities such because the Golden Dome,” Blue Origin wrote.
Since you requested… pic.twitter.com/HRbQjRpHWC
— Dave Limp (@davill) November 20, 2025
Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp posted an illustration of an upgraded New Glenn standing taller subsequent to the Saturn V rocket used to launch astronauts to the moon as a part of NASA’s Apollo program. The brand new Glen 9×4 additionally seems to be a lot bigger than its predecessor.
New Glenn’s second profitable flight proved the rocket’s worth within the orbital launch recreation. New Glenn Rocket’s superheavy rocket will enable Blue Origin to compete with SpaceX on an excellent bigger scale.
