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Updates Blue Origin announces the New Glenn Orbital Launch Vehicle

Finally returning
https://twitter.com/x/status/1990743641367945255
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1990757544932094265
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1991538235609326013
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Blue Origin announced a series of upgrades to New Glenn designed to increase payload performance and launch cadence, while enhancing reliability. The enhancements span propulsion, structures, avionics, reusability, and recovery operations, and will be phased into upcoming New Glenn missions beginning with NG-3.

One of the primary enhancements includes higher-performing engines on both stages. Total thrust for the seven BE-4 booster engines is increasing from 3.9 million lbf (17,219 kN) to 4.5 million lbf (19,928 kN). BE-4 has already demonstrated 625,000 lbf on the test stand at current propellant conditions and will achieve 640,000 lbf later this year, with propellant subcooling increasing the current thrust capability from the existing 550,000 lbf.

The total thrust of the two BE-3Us powering New Glenn’s upper stage is increasing from the original design of 320,000 lbf (1,423 kN) to 400,000 lbf (1,779 kN) thrust over the next few missions. BE-3U has already demonstrated 211,658 lbf on the test stand.

These enhancements will immediately benefit customers already manifested on New Glenn to fly to destinations including low-Earth orbit, the Moon, and beyond. Additional vehicle upgrades include a reusable fairing to support increased flight rates, an updated lower-cost tank design, and a higher-performing and reusable thermal protection system to improve turnaround time.

The next chapter in New Glenn’s roadmap is a new super-heavy class rocket. Named after the number of engines on each stage, New Glenn 9x4, is designed for a subset of missions requiring additional capacity and performance. The vehicle carries over 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, over 14 metric tons direct to geosynchronous orbit, and over 20 metric tons to trans-lunar injection. Additionally, the 9x4 vehicle will feature a larger 8.7-meter fairing.

Both vehicles: 9x4 and our current variant, 7x2, will serve the market concurrently, giving customers more launch options for their missions, including mega-constellations, lunar and deep space exploration, and national security imperatives such as Golden Dome.


https://twitter.com/x/status/1991544049095045367
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BO states that seven and nine engines versions f New Glenn will continue to work concurrently to cover different needs.

Wouldn't it be more logical to keep only the nine-engine version, to be used (even partially refueled if necessary) with different upper stages? Why keep two different production lines open?
 
K_Jameson said:
BO states that seven and nine engines versions f New Glenn will continue to work concurrently to cover different needs.

Wouldn't it be more logical to keep only the nine-engine version, to be used (even partially refueled if necessary) with different upper stages? Why keep two different production lines open?
Click to expand...
The engines should be the same.
The first stage is different (looks like only the aft section, strakes, and a few more rings to extend the tanks), but it is reusable, so they should not need to produce them like sausages.
The second stage is currently not reusable, but it seems to be easy and cheap to build. A few more rings to extend the tanks, and a thrust structure that holds 4 engines + piping, and that should be it.
The fairing is different (could they also fly the same?), but it will be reusable, so production isn't that critical.
Software should be the same, but with different values.
The pad looks overbuilt for the New Glenn as it is, so that should not need any changes. They are not showing the erector behind the 9x4, so maybe that will be different?

In the end, the 9x4 doesn't seem revolutionary but evolutionary, so there should be much commonality. Also, while they are working on it, they have something to fly and learn from.
 
I think he has the 'Politically connected' character trait... :rolleyes:
 
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