New Glenn orbital launch vehicle Blue Origin

the new glenn 7.0-metre (23 ft)-diameter two- or three-stage orbital launch vehicle expected launch prior 2020.

the design work on vehicle began in 2012. high-level specifications vehicle publicly announced in september 2016.

the first stage powered 7 be-4 engines, designed , manufactured blue origin. first stage reusable, new shepard suborbital launch vehicle preceded it. second stage, , optional third stage flights, both intended expendable.

orbital launch vehicle

revealed in 2015, blue origin orbital launch vehicle—which began referred placeholder name of big brother in march 2016 —is two-stage-to-orbit liquid-propellant rocket. launcher intended reusable. in january 2016, blue origin announced plan announce details launch vehicle later in 2016, , few details released in march 2016 when blue origin indicated first orbital launch expected, florida launch facility, in 2020.

the first stage powered blue origin s be-4 single-shaft oxygen-rich staged combustion liquid methane/liquid oxygen rocket engine while second stage powered qualified be-3 tap-off cycle liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen rocket engine. number of engines powering each stage has not been released, nor has payload or gross launch weight specifications. no details publicly released of september 2015.

blue origin intends launch rocket historic launch complex 36, , manufacture rockets @ new facility on nearby land in exploration park. acceptance testing of be-4 engines done in florida.

orbital subsystems , earlier development work

blue origin began developing systems orbital human spacecraft prior 2012. reusable first-stage booster projected fly suborbital trajectory, taking off vertically booster stage of conventional multistage rocket. following stage separation, upper stage continue propel astronauts orbit while first-stage booster descend perform powered vertical landing similar new shepard suborbital propulsion module. first-stage booster refueled , launched again, allowing improved reliability , lowering cost of human access space.

the booster rocket projected loft blue origin’s biconic space vehicle orbit, carrying astronauts , supplies. after orbiting earth, space vehicle reenter earth’s atmosphere land on land under parachutes, , reused on future missions earth orbit.

blue origin completed system requirements review (srr) of orbital space vehicle in may 2012.

engine testing reusable booster system (rbs) vehicle began in 2012. full-power test of thrust chamber blue origin be-3 liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen rocket engine conducted @ nasa test facility in october 2012. chamber achieved full thrust of 100,000 pounds-force (about 440 kn).