Overview
New Glenn is Blue Origin's heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle, named after astronaut John Glenn. It is a two-stage rocket with a reusable first stage powered by seven BE-4 liquid methane/LOX engines. New Glenn is designed to compete directly with SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy for commercial, government and national security launches, while also serving as the primary deployment vehicle for Amazon's Project Kuiper broadband constellation.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Operator | Blue Origin |
| First Flight | 2025 (maiden flight) |
| Height | 98 m (321 ft) |
| Diameter | 7 m (23 ft) |
| First Stage Engines | 7 × BE-4 (liquid methane / LOX) |
| Second Stage Engine | 2 × BE-3U (liquid hydrogen / LOX) |
| Liftoff Thrust | ~17,100 kN (3.85 million lbf) |
| Payload to LEO | 45,000 kg |
| Payload to GTO | 13,000 kg |
| Reusability | First stage reusable (landing on ship) |
| Launch Site | LC-36, Cape Canaveral, Florida |
BE-4 Engine
The BE-4 is a 2,400 kN liquid methane/LOX engine designed and manufactured by Blue Origin. It is also the engine that powers ULA's Vulcan Centaur rocket, making it a critical piece of US launch infrastructure. The BE-4 uses an oxygen-rich staged combustion cycle — a technically demanding but high-performance engine architecture.
Amazon Kuiper Contract
Amazon has contracted 12 New Glenn launches to deploy its 3,236-satellite Project Kuiper broadband constellation. This represents a major anchor customer for New Glenn and is central to Amazon's plan to compete with SpaceX's Starlink.
7-Metre Fairing
New Glenn's 7-metre payload fairing is significantly larger than Falcon 9's 5.2 m and comparable to Ariane 5/6's dual-launch fairing. The volume advantage is particularly suited to large commercial satellites and government payloads that are volume-constrained rather than mass-constrained.
Competitive Landscape
New Glenn enters a market dominated by SpaceX. Its success depends on achieving competitive pricing through first-stage reuse, maintaining a reliable launch cadence, and demonstrating the flight-proven reliability that customers require. Blue Origin's deep financial backing from Jeff Bezos provides runway, but operational execution will be decisive.