Blue Origin certainly has ambitious launch targets for New Glenn
Summary
Blue Origin is planning to build a more powerful version of its New Glenn rocket with four engines on the upper stage instead of two. The company aims to increase production to launch up to 60 of these rockets per year by 2028 and possibly 100 by 2029. They are investing in new manufacturing facilities to support this growth but have faced some challenges in recent launches.Key Facts
- Blue Origin wants to produce a new "Quattro" upper stage for the New Glenn rocket with four BE-3U engines.
- This new version is called 9×4 (nine first stage engines, four upper stage engines), larger than the current 7×2 version.
- The company plans to ramp production from 12 stages per year now to 60 stages by late 2028, and 100 stages annually by 2029.
- A high production rate suggests Blue Origin hopes to launch around 60 9×4 rockets per year starting in 2028.
- The current 7×2 New Glenn rockets will still be used for smaller missions.
- The company is studying if the upper stage can be reused, but for now each launch uses a new upper stage.
- Blue Origin recently had an issue with the upper stage during the latest launch but succeeded in landing a first stage on an earlier flight.
- Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin’s founder, is investing heavily in infrastructure, including a large new factory called "Project Horizon" in Florida.
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