Blue Origin Prepares for Crucial New Glenn Launch Ahead of Moon Mission

Blue Origin’s upcoming launch of the New Glenn rocket is pivotal for both its future missions and NASA’s Mars exploration efforts. Set to occur no earlier than November from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, this second flight aims to deploy two NASA-funded satellites to study Mars’s upper atmosphere. A successful launch would mark a significant step towards understanding how Mars transitioned from a warmer, wetter planet to its current cold, dry state.

The stakes are particularly high for Blue Origin, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, as the company plans to utilize the first stage of the New Glenn rocket for its upcoming lunar mission. To achieve this, the booster must land successfully after launch, a feat that will require precise execution. During the first New Glenn flight in January, the rocket reached orbit but the booster fell into the Atlantic Ocean after three of its engines failed to reignite for landing.

According to Pat Remias, Blue Origin’s vice president of space systems development, the company has identified seven modifications to improve performance, focusing on “propellant management and engine bleed control improvements.” Remias expressed confidence in the upcoming launch, stating, “We fully intend to recover the New Glenn first stage on this next launch.”

In a nod to the high stakes, Blue Origin has named the booster stage for the next flight “Never Tell Me The Odds.” The success of this landing will be integral to the company’s plans for its lunar ambitions, particularly the third New Glenn launch, which is slated for January 2024. This mission will involve reusing the same booster from the second flight to deploy the Blue Moon Mark 1 lander, intended to be the largest spacecraft to touch the lunar surface.

The Blue Moon Mark 1, designed to deliver up to 3 metric tons (approximately 6,600 pounds) of cargo, is now fully assembled and will soon undergo testing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. As the lander is prepared for its mission, Blue Origin is also working on additional lunar landers, including the Blue Moon Mark 2, which will be capable of carrying astronauts as part of NASA’s Artemis program.

Production timelines for the New Glenn rocket highlight the challenges Blue Origin faces. The second stage for the upcoming flight was successfully test-fired in April, and assembly of the second booster is progressing well. The company aims to refurbish the recovered first stage for reuse within 90 days, a significant achievement if realized.

While the timeline for the New Glenn missions is ambitious, Blue Origin’s strategy of producing fewer, higher-quality boosters is both a strength and a risk. With aspirations to ramp up launch cadence, the successful recovery of the booster on the next flight will be crucial. Laura Maginnis, vice president of New Glenn mission management, noted that the company is building a “fleet of several boosters” and has eight upper stages ready for future missions.

The implications of a successful landing extend beyond Blue Origin’s immediate goals. NASA is exploring various pathways to ensure a timely return to the Moon, with competition from China, which aims for a crew landing by 2030. The urgency of these developments raises the stakes for Blue Origin’s next launch, as a successful recovery could accelerate NASA’s lunar ambitions.

As the team prepares for the upcoming launch, the pressure mounts. Blue Origin’s engineers are determined to overcome the challenges of the past and make history once again. With a focus on innovation and reliability, the outcome of the next New Glenn launch could reshape the future of lunar exploration and solidify Blue Origin’s position in the competitive landscape of spaceflight.