Blue Origin announced, in an official note, the successful completion of an integrated hotfire test for its New Glenn rocket. The test, which lasted a total of 24 seconds, saw the simultaneous ignition of the seven engines of the first stage. The inaugural launch (NG-1) will carry a Blue Ring Pathfinder as the primary payload and will take place from Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The test campaign, which lasted several days, included numerous functional and empty refueling tests, culminating in the hotfire. The integrated launch vehicle included the first and second stages of the NG-1 flight vehicle and a payload test item consisting of production test demonstration fairings, a high-capacity fixed adapter flight unit and a 45,000-pound payload mass simulator.
A primary objective of the campaign was to demonstrate launch day operations in the NG-1 test configuration. The team also conducted several tests to validate the vehicle and ground systems in the fully integrated configuration on the launch pad. This data will be used to finalize launch day timing, confirm expected performance, and correlate models with real-world test data.
Jarrett Jones, SVP of New Glenn, said: “This is a monumental achievement and a preview of what is to come with the first launch of New Glenn. Today’s success demonstrates that our rigorous testing approach, combined with our incredible tools and design engineering, is working as intended“.
The refueling test included a full simulation of the final countdown sequence, testing the handover of authority to and from the flight computer, and collecting fluid validation data. The first stage (GS1) tanks were filled and pressurized with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LOX), while the second stage (GS2) with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, both at benchmarks representative of NG- 1.
The formal dress rehearsal of NG-1 demonstrated the final launch procedures leading to engine ignition. All seven engines ran nominally, firing for 24 seconds, including 13 seconds at maximum thrust. The test also demonstrated New Glenn’s autogenous pressurization system, which self-generates gas to pressurize the GS1’s propellant tanks.
Blue Origin has several New Glenn vehicles in production and a large customer baseincluding NASA, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile, several telecommunications providers, and a combination of U.S. government customers. Blue Origin is certifying New Glenn with the U.S. Space Force for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program to meet new national security objectives.
New Glenn stands more than 98 meters tall and features a seven-meter payload fairingwhich allows double the volume of standard five-meter-class commercial launch systems. Its reusable first stage aims for a minimum of 25 missions and will land on Jacklyn, a maritime platform located several hundred miles away. Reusability is integral to radically reducing the cost per launch. The vehicle is powered by seven Blue Origin BE-4 engines, the most powerful oxygen-rich staged combustion engine powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) ever flown. LNG is a cleaner-burning, higher-performance fuel than kerosene-based fuels, and the seven BE-4s generate more than 3.8 million pounds of thrust. The vehicle’s second stage is powered by two BE-3U, liquid oxygen (LOX)/liquid hydrogen (LH2) engines designed to together produce over 320,000 pounds of vacuum thrust. In addition to the BE-4 and BE-3U, Blue Origin produces BE-7 engines for its Blue Moon lunar landers and New Shepard’s BE-3PM engine.
