SpaceX isn’t the only one. On Thursday, after numerous delays, Blue Origin successfully launched a rocket into orbit for the first time in its 25-year history. And what a remarkable rocket it is.
Liftoff. New Glenn finally ignited its seven main engines on Jan. 16 at 2:03 a.m. (local time in Florida). Blue Origin owner Jeff Bezos nervously watched from the control center as the massive launcher slowly lifted off from the LC-36 pad at Cape Canaveral.
The BE-4 engines on the first stage performed flawlessly, creating seven beautiful shock diamonds in a bluish hue typical of methane combustion. Blue Origin took almost four hours to fuel the 322-foot-tall rocket, one of history’s tallest and most powerful rockets. New Glenn can also deliver payloads of up to 45 tons into orbit.
Orbit achieved. No more jokes about Blue Origin not reaching orbit. The 23-foot-diameter rocket successfully passed through the phase of greatest aerodynamic stress. Three minutes after liftoff, it shut down its engines to separate from its second stage, which crossed the boundary of space to achieve orbital velocity.
Despite experiencing unstable transmission, the second stage demonstrated the reliability of its two BE-3U engines, which use liquid hydrogen instead of methane as fuel. Each of these vacuum-optimized engines produces 770 kN of thrust, while the first stage’s BE-4 engines generate 2,400 kN at sea level.
Failed landing. The details of what happened during the landing attempt are unclear, given that there was no live feed. However, it was reported that New Glenn’s first stage didn’t survive its initial landing attempt. The 189-foot booster was expected to fire its engines, deploy its landing legs, and hover over the autonomous Jacklyn barge for a successful landing. Unfortunately, Blue Origin lost telemetry shortly after stage separation.
This outcome is reminiscent of SpaceX’s early landing attempts. Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp recently said, “Anything beyond [reaching orbit] is a bonus.” The company is building on its experience with the New Shepard rocket, although the 63-foot suborbital launcher is so small in comparison that it can fit within the New Glenn’s fairing.
Payload. The primary mission was a success, bringing Blue Origin closer to its long-desired certification for launching national security payloads for the U.S. government. This would open up a profitable opportunity for the company, allowing it to compete with SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy and United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan.
Blue Origin used a prototype of the Blue Ring space tug for New Glenn’s payload. The company plans to use this tug to move satellites once the rocket is in orbit. However, the prototype didn’t separate from the second stage, which will reach an apogee of 12,000 miles.
SpaceX faces competition. SpaceX currently dominates most commercial and military contracts in both the U.S. and globally. However, the massive New Glenn rocket is expected to serve as an alternative for companies and governments that need to launch satellites into orbit.
Although New Glenn isn’t yet reusable, it relies on Bezos’ financial support to continue its development without an immediate profit. In addition to securing numerous contracts with NASA, including the Blue Moon lunar lander, Blue Origin is also pursuing other projects. These include the private space station Orbital Reef, which aims to exploit microgravity research and facilitate space tourism once the International Space Station is retired.
Image | Blue Origin
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