Blue Origin Unveils ‘New Glenn 9×4’ Rocket, Challenging SpaceX’s Starship
Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, has revealed a significantly upgraded version of its New Glenn rocket, dubbed the ‘9×4’ configuration. This new iteration is positioned as a direct competitor to SpaceX’s Starship, boasting increased payload capacity and versatility for a range of missions.
The New Glenn 9×4 distinguishes itself through a substantial engine upgrade, incorporating nine BE-4 engines in its first stage and four BE-3U engines in the upper stage. This represents a considerable increase from the previous 7×2 configuration, which utilized seven and two engines respectively. The enhanced power, coupled with an expanded cowling, allows for the transportation of larger and heavier payloads, including the deployment of multiple satellites per mission.
According to company statements, the New Glenn 9×4 is capable of delivering over 70 metric tons to low Earth orbit, more than 14 metric tons to geostationary orbit, and exceeding 20 metric tons towards the Moon. These figures place it firmly within the category of super-heavy lift launch vehicles, rivaling the capabilities of Starship and surpassing most currently available commercial launchers. A visual comparison shared on social media illustrates the scale difference between the New Glenn, the Saturn V, and the New Glenn 9×4 design.
The rocket’s 8.7-meter hull is designed to accommodate large satellites and diverse configurations, broadening the scope of potential missions for commercial, scientific, and government clients. The design supports a wide spectrum of applications, from deploying mega-satellite constellations to facilitating lunar and deep space exploration, and even supporting national security operations. Its capacity to handle bulky and heavy loads makes it an appealing option for missions requiring substantial orbital infrastructure or the simultaneous launch of multiple satellites. The Golden Dome program is cited as a key strategic objective for the new vehicle.
Importantly, the introduction of the 9×4 variant does not signal the end of the 7×2 model. Both versions will operate concurrently, offering customers a choice based on payload size, scheduling needs, and specific mission requirements. “Both vehicles: 9×4 and our current variant, 7×2, will serve the market concurrently, allowing missions to be tailored to vehicle size, schedule and performance needs,” a company representative stated. This dual-vehicle strategy aims to provide flexibility and adaptability in an increasingly competitive market.
The announcement follows a successful second flight of the New Glenn, during which it carried NASA’s ESCAPADE probes towards Mars and successfully recovered its booster on a maritime support ship. This achievement underscores the system’s reliability and marks a significant step forward for Blue Origin in the heavy-lift launch sector.
Alongside the 9×4, Blue Origin is also implementing improvements to the 7×2 version of the New Glenn, beginning with the NG-3 mission. These enhancements encompass propulsion systems, structural components, avionics, and both reuse and recovery operations. The seven main booster BE-4 engines will see their thrust increased from 3.9 million pound-force (lbf) to 4.5 million lbf. Testing has already achieved 625,000 lbf, with projections reaching 640,000 lbf through the use of subcooled propellant, an improvement over the previous 550,000 lbf.
Similarly, the two BE-3U engines in the second stage will experience a thrust increase from 320,000 to 400,000 lbf, with bench tests already recording 211,658 lbf. Additional upgrades include reusable caps, lower-cost tanks, and an optimized thermal protection system designed to reduce reconditioning times.
These advancements signal Blue Origin’s commitment to establishing a robust and versatile launch capability, poised to compete directly with industry leader SpaceX in the evolving space landscape.
