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→‎Early development work on orbital subsystems: remove a sentence that is out-of-scope for this article, since about the capsule payload and not the launcher
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=== Early development work on orbital subsystems ===
=== Early development work on orbital subsystems ===
Blue Origin began developing systems for orbital human spacecraft prior to 2012. A reusable first-stage booster was projected to fly a suborbital trajectory, taking off vertically like the booster stage of a conventional multistage rocket. Following stage separation, the upper stage would continue to propel astronauts to orbit while the first-stage booster would descend to perform a powered vertical landing similar to the ''New Shepard'' suborbital vehicle. The first-stage booster was to be refueled and launched again, allowing improved reliability and lowering the cost of human access to space.<ref name=blueorigin-about20130405 />
Blue Origin began developing systems for orbital human spacecraft prior to 2012. A reusable first-stage booster was projected to fly a suborbital trajectory, taking off vertically like the booster stage of a conventional multistage rocket. Following stage separation, the upper stage would continue to propel astronauts to orbit while the first-stage booster would descend to perform a powered vertical landing similar to the ''New Shepard'' suborbital vehicle. The first-stage booster was to be refueled and launched again, allowing improved reliability and with the goal of lowering the cost of human access to space.<ref name=blueorigin-about20130405 />


The booster rocket was projected to loft Blue Origin's biconic [[space capsule|Space Vehicle]] capsule<!-- Blue referred to it as the "Space Vehicle", proper noun, in early 2013. --> to orbit, carrying astronauts and supplies. After completing its mission in orbit, the Space Vehicle was designed to reenter Earth's atmosphere and land under parachutes on land, to be reused on future missions.<ref name=blueorigin-about20130405 />
The booster rocket was projected to loft Blue Origin's biconic [[space capsule|Space Vehicle]] capsule<!-- Blue referred to it as the "Space Vehicle", proper noun, in early 2013. --> to orbit, carrying astronauts and supplies. After completing its mission in orbit, the Space Vehicle was designed to reenter Earth's atmosphere and land under parachutes on land, to be reused on future missions.<ref name=blueorigin-about20130405 />

Blue Origin successfully completed a [[System Requirements Review]] (SRR) of its Space Vehicle in May 2012.<ref name=nsf20160912/><ref name=parabolicarc-20120531 />


Engine testing for the (then named) Reusable Booster System (RBS) launch vehicle began in 2012. A full-power test of the thrust chamber for Blue Origin [[BE-3]] [[liquid oxygen]]/[[liquid hydrogen]] upper-stage [[rocket engine]] was conducted at a [[John C. Stennis Space Center|NASA test facility]] in October 2012. The chamber successfully achieved full thrust of {{convert|100000|lbf|kN|disp=x| (about |)|lk=out}}.<ref name=nsw20121016 />
Engine testing for the (then named) Reusable Booster System (RBS) launch vehicle began in 2012. A full-power test of the thrust chamber for Blue Origin [[BE-3]] [[liquid oxygen]]/[[liquid hydrogen]] upper-stage [[rocket engine]] was conducted at a [[John C. Stennis Space Center|NASA test facility]] in October 2012. The chamber successfully achieved full thrust of {{convert|100000|lbf|kN|disp=x| (about |)|lk=out}}.<ref name=nsw20121016 />

Revision as of 19:55, 19 September 2016

New Glenn
File:Blue Origin New Glenn 2016-Sep Introduction-Non Free.jpg
New Glenn as presented in September 2016
FunctionReusable orbital launcher
ManufacturerBlue Origin
Country of originUnited States
Size
Height2 stage: 82 m (270 ft)
3 stage: 95 m (313 ft)
Diameter7 m (23 ft)
Stages2 or 3
Associated rockets
ComparableSpace Launch System
Falcon Heavy
Launch history
StatusIn development
Launch sitesCape Canaveral LC-36
First stage
Diameter7 m (23 ft)
Powered by7 × BE-4
Maximum thrust17.1 MN (3,850,000 lbf)
PropellantMethane / LOX
Second stage
Diameter7 m (23 ft)
Powered byBE-4 Vacuum
Maximum thrust2.4 MN (550,000 lbf)
PropellantMethane / LOX
Third stage
Diameter7 m (23 ft)
Powered byBE-3U
Maximum thrust490 kN (110,000 lbf)
PropellantH2 / LOX
[edit on Wikidata]

The New Glenn is an orbital launch vehicle in development by Blue Origin. It is expected to make its initial test launch prior to 2020. Design work on the vehicle began in 2012. The high-level specifications for the vehicle were publicly announced in September 2016. New Glenn is described as a 7-meter-diameter (23 ft), two- or three-stage rocket. Its first stage will be powered by seven BE-4 engines that are also being designed and manufactured by Blue Origin. Like the New Shepard suborbital launch vehicle that preceded it, the New Glenn's first stage is designed to be reusable.[1]

History

After beginning development of an orbital system prior to 2012, Blue Origin announced the existence of their new orbital launch vehicle in September 2015.[2] In January 2016, Blue Origin indicated that the new rocket would be many times larger than New Shepard even though it would be the smallest of the family of Blue Origin orbital vehicles.[3] Blue Origin publicly released the high-level design of the vehicle—and announced the name New Glenn—in September 2016.[1]

Early development work on orbital subsystems

Blue Origin began developing systems for orbital human spacecraft prior to 2012. A reusable first-stage booster was projected to fly a suborbital trajectory, taking off vertically like the booster stage of a conventional multistage rocket. Following stage separation, the upper stage would continue to propel astronauts to orbit while the first-stage booster would descend to perform a powered vertical landing similar to the New Shepard suborbital vehicle. The first-stage booster was to be refueled and launched again, allowing improved reliability and with the goal of lowering the cost of human access to space.[4]

The booster rocket was projected to loft Blue Origin's biconic Space Vehicle capsule to orbit, carrying astronauts and supplies. After completing its mission in orbit, the Space Vehicle was designed to reenter Earth's atmosphere and land under parachutes on land, to be reused on future missions.[4]

Engine testing for the (then named) Reusable Booster System (RBS) launch vehicle began in 2012. A full-power test of the thrust chamber for Blue Origin BE-3 liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen upper-stage rocket engine was conducted at a NASA test facility in October 2012. The chamber successfully achieved full thrust of 100,000 pounds-force (about 440 kN).[5]

Orbital launch vehicle

Further plans for an orbital launch vehicle were made public in 2015. By March 2016, the rocket was referred to by the placeholder name of "Very Big Brother".[6][7] It was stated to be a two-stage-to-orbit liquid-propellant rocket,[2] with the launcher intended to be reusable.[8] Blue Origin indicated that the first orbital launch was expected in 2020 from the Florida launch facility.[7]

Those plans called for the first stage to be powered by Blue Origin's BE-4 single-shaft oxygen-rich staged combustion[9] liquid methane/liquid oxygen rocket engine while the second stage will be powered by the recently qualified BE-3 tap-off cycle liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen rocket engine. The number of engines powering each stage was not released, nor was the payload or gross launch weight specifications. Blue Origin intends to launch the rocket from the historic Launch Complex 36 and manufacture the rockets at a new facility on nearby land in Exploration Park. Acceptance testing of the BE-4 engines will also be done in Florida.[8]

On 12 September 2016, Blue announced that the rocket would be named New Glenn in honor of the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth, John Glenn, and that the 7-meter-diameter (23 ft) first stage will be powered by seven Blue Origin BE-4 engines. The first stage is reusable and will land vertically, just like the New Shepard suborbital launch vehicle that preceded it.[1]

Description and technical specifications

The New Glenn is a 7-meter-diameter (23 ft) two-stage orbital launch vehicle with an optional third stage and a reusable first stage.[1]

The first stage will be powered by seven BE-4 methane/oxygen engines, also designed and manufactured by Blue Origin. The first stage is reusable and will land vertically, a technology previously developed by Blue Origin and tested in 2015–2016 on its New Shepard suborbital launch vehicle.[1]

The second stage will share the same diameter as the first and use a single BE-4, but optimized for vacuum with a longer nozzle. It will share the same propellant but be expendable.[1]

The optional third stage will use a single BE-3U vacuum optimized rocket engine, and use hydrogen/oxygen as propellant. The BE-3U is also manufactured by Blue Origin and has already been used on the New Shepard, albeit as a sea level optimized version.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Bergin, Chris (12 September 2016). "Blue Origin introduce the New Glenn orbital LV". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b Foust, Jeff (15 September 2015). "Bezos Not Concerned About Competition, Possible ULA Sale". Space News. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  3. ^ Howell, Elizabeth (29 February 2016). "Blue Origin: Quiet Plans for Spaceships". Space.com. Retrieved 5 March 2016. [Blue Origin is] already more than three years into development of our first orbital vehicle ... Though it will be the small vehicle in our orbital family, it's still many times larger than New Shepard. [we] hope to share details about this first orbital vehicle this year {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b "Blue Origin – About Blue". Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Blue Origin tests 100k lb LOX/LH2 engine in commercial crew program". NewSpace Watch. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Berger, Eric (9 March 2016). "Behind the curtain: Ars goes inside Blue Origin's secretive rocket factory". Ars Technica. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  7. ^ a b Boyle, Alan (5 March 2016). "Jeff Bezos lifts curtain on Blue Origin rocket factory, lays out grand plan for space travel that spans hundreds of years". GeekWire. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Jeff Bezos plans to boost humans into space from Cape Canaveral". CBS News. Retrieved 17 September 2015. Bezos "You cannot afford to be a space-fairing civilization if you throw the rocket away every time you use it. ... We have to be focused on reusability, we have to be focused on lowering the cost of space."
  9. ^ "Breaking News | ULA taps Blue Origin for powerful new rocket engine". Spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved 8 April 2015.
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