Blue Origin Unveils Enhanced New Glenn Rocket to Compete with SpaceX

Blue Origin has announced plans to enhance its New Glenn rocket, introducing a super-heavy variant designed to compete directly with SpaceX’s Starship. This new model, dubbed New Glenn 9×4, features a total of nine engines on the booster stage and four on the upper stage, increasing the engine count by two on each stage compared to the current New Glenn design, which has seven engines on the booster and two on the upper stage.

In a statement, Blue Origin emphasized, “The next chapter in New Glenn’s roadmap is a new super-heavy class rocket.” This announcement follows the successful second test flight of New Glenn, which was launched to support NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars. Although Blue Origin did not disclose a specific timeline for launching the upgraded variant, the rocket is set to have a busy launch schedule in 2026 and 2027.

Expansion of Capabilities

The New Glenn rocket was initially unveiled in January after a series of delays. Its inaugural launch experienced challenges, specifically the failure to recover the booster after its descent. Following an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration, which recommended seven corrective measures, Blue Origin successfully executed the second mission, demonstrating the rocket’s viability for future launches.

With the New Glenn 9×4’s additional thrust, the upgraded rocket will be capable of lifting over 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, more than 14 metric tons to geosynchronous orbit, and over 20 metric tons to trans-lunar injection. While these figures are significantly lower than SpaceX’s Starship capability of up to 150 metric tons to low Earth orbit, the New Glenn 9×4 remains a formidable launch vehicle.

In addition to enhanced thrust, the upgraded New Glenn will feature a larger 28.5-foot (approximately 8.7-meter) fairing, allowing for the transport of larger payloads. Blue Origin highlighted that both the 9×4 and the current 7×2 variant will operate concurrently, providing customers with diverse launch options for various missions, including mega-constellations and lunar exploration, as well as national security projects like Golden Dome.

Positioning Against Competitors

Dave Limp, Blue Origin’s CEO, shared an illustration of the New Glenn 9×4 alongside the historic Saturn V rocket, which famously launched astronauts to the Moon during NASA’s Apollo program. The visual comparison highlights the increased size and capabilities of the New Glenn 9×4 compared to its predecessor.

The successful outcome of New Glenn’s second flight has established the rocket as a credible contender in the orbital launch sector. With the introduction of this super-heavy variant, Blue Origin aims to position itself more competitively against SpaceX in the rapidly evolving aerospace market. As the company prepares for its upcoming launches, the focus remains on expanding its capabilities and offering enhanced solutions to meet the demands of the space industry.