Blue Origin has announced an ambitious expansion of its New Glenn rocket series, introducing a super-heavy variant designed to compete directly with SpaceX’s Starship. Following the success of New Glenn’s second test flight, the company revealed the upgraded model, named New Glenn 9×4, which will feature nine engines on its booster and four on the upper stage. This modification represents an increase of two engines per stage from the current New Glenn configuration, which includes seven engines on the booster and two on the upper stage.
In a statement, Blue Origin emphasized that “the next chapter in New Glenn’s roadmap is a new super-heavy class rocket.” The announcement comes shortly after the successful launch of New Glenn’s second mission, which delivered NASA’s ESCAPADE mission toward Mars. Although specific launch dates for the larger variant have not been disclosed, Blue Origin has a busy schedule planned for 2026 and 2027.
Significant Enhancements and Market Goals
The New Glenn 9×4 is engineered to deliver a substantial payload capacity, with the ability to lift over 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, more than 14 metric tons to geosynchronous orbit, and upwards of 20 metric tons for trans-lunar injection. While these figures fall short of Starship’s impressive capability of transporting up to 150 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, the enhancements position New Glenn as a formidable player in the launch vehicle market.
Additionally, the upgraded rocket will boast a larger fairing measuring 28.5 feet (8.7 meters), allowing for bigger payloads. Blue Origin stated, “Both vehicles: 9×4 and our current variant, 7×2, 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.”
Aiming for Success After Initial Hurdles
The New Glenn rocket was initially unveiled in January, but its debut flight faced challenges, including the unsuccessful recovery of the booster during descent. An investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration identified seven corrective measures necessary for the rocket’s return to flight status. The subsequent successful mission marked a significant milestone for Blue Origin, and the company now shifts its focus toward expanding its capabilities.
Blue Origin’s CEO, Dave Limp, recently shared an illustration of the enhanced New Glenn towering next to the iconic Saturn V rocket, which played a crucial role in NASA’s Apollo program. This visual comparison highlights the ambitious scale of the New Glenn 9×4, which is positioned to elevate Blue Origin’s competitive stance against SpaceX in the evolving space launch industry.
The developments surrounding the New Glenn 9×4 reflect Blue Origin’s commitment to advancing its technology and expanding its market share in the space sector. As the company prepares for a packed launch schedule in the coming years, the enhanced rocket could potentially redefine the landscape of commercial spaceflight.
