New Glenn

and that's just what Blue Origin did this morning.
New Glenn stood like a beacon in the night, with excess propellant being burned off as the vehicle stood on LC-36 on January 13, 2025
Photo: Charles Boyer, ToT

Blue Origin’s initial attempt to launch their 320-foot New Glenn for the first time did not go as planned this morning, as technical issues repeatedly forced pushbacks in the planned T-0 time, and finally resulted in a scrub for the morning as engineers were forced to call a scrub towards the end of the launch window.

Blue Origin has not announced the next New Glenn launch attempt, which remains upright at the Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The rocket and its payload is safe and a new attempt may come as soon as overnight tonight, or in two days after SpaceX launches Falcon 9 with the Blue Ghost Lunar Lander Mission 1 & Hakuto-R M2 “Resilience” mission from LC-39A early Wednesday morning.

Jetty Park Pier was filled with hundreds of spectators awaiting New Glenn’s maiden launch.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Tot
Jetty Park Pier, looking towards the beach.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Tot

Blue Origin has not officially announced the reasons behind the scrub, but seemingly informed rumors of an APU (Auxillary Power Unit) operating outside of its specifications were echoing up and down the beaches as spectators waited for the launch.

Weather Is A Concern For Tuesday Morning

One aspect of Blue Origin’s decision whether or not to try launching New Glenn may come down to weather: the 45th Weather Squadron of Space Launch Delta 45 has posted a new forecast this morning that is somewhat pessimistic:

The 45th Weather Squadron released this forecast on Monday January 13th at around 3AM after Blue Origin officially scrubbed the New Glenn launch attempt.
Retrieved January 13, 2025 0900

Overcast skies, rain showers and higher than acceptable winds are forecast for the Space Coast overnight, causing the 45th to predict only a 30% chance of the range being within acceptable weather conditions.

Given the fact that New Glenn has not yet flown, that it takes a long time to fuel (around five hours) to fuel and that the weather may not be very cooperative this evening, it would be no surprise if Blue Origin demurs from an attempt this evening, choosing to wait another two days until the weather turns in their favor. That would also afford Blue Origin’s engineers to further assess the data from last night’s launch attempt in order to find a path forward to launch.

This Is Not Unusual, Nor Is It Any Surprise

Before a rocket actually flies, there are tens of thousands of limits and parameters that the designers of the vehicle decide on, with all of those decisions related to best industry practices, theoretical limits, and experimental observations. While testing or simulations can provide some insight and process improvements, one thing they cannot provide is real-world data based on actual performance observed as the new rocket attempts to go to space.

Heat distortion gave a shimmery view of New Glenn as the sun set on January 12.
Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT

That said, decision makers and engineers tend towards erring on the side of caution before flying. It makes good common sense to do so, and conservative decision making in these matters has shown to lead to the best outcomes, especially in an all-up testing scenario like New Glenn’s first flight.

“It is better to be on the ground wishing you were flying than it is to be in the air wishing you were on the ground fixing a problem.”

Old Aviation Maxim

Tomorrow is another day, and it is a chance to eliminate any problems you know about.

That said, despite the frustrations of space aficionados and launch spectators, playing it safe with a flying can of high-explosives is always the right choice. Fly when you are ready and never before, and that’s just what Blue Origin did this morning.

Stay tuned.

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The New Glenn vehicle rolled out and upended for the first time to undergo a series of tanking and mechanical system tests (February 21, 2024).
New Glenn at LC-36 earlier this year.
Photo: Blue Origin

Blue Origin announced today that the payload for the first launch of their New Glenn orbital-class rocket is ready, and that the company still plans to launch the flight this year — which has only 22 days remaining.

The Payload

Blue Ring inside New Glenn's fairings. Photo: Blue Origin
Blue Ring inside New Glenn’s fairings.
Photo: Blue Origin

Blue Origin plans to conduct a pathfinder test of its Blue Ring technologies. Blue Ring is described by the company as a “spacecraft platform,” one that can not only orbit Earth and provide services to satellites, but also travel around the Moon, with the goal of providing delivery and logistics support to cislunar space projects as well. 

Blue Ring will also function as a maneuverable platform that can host, transport, and refuel other spacecraft. It will also be capable of acting as a data relay while also offering an “in-space” cloud computing capability, according to the original announcement of the project. 

Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, said on December 9, “There is a growing demand to quickly move and position equipment and infrastructure in multiple orbits. Blue Ring has advanced propulsion and communication capabilities for government and commercial customers to handle these maneuvers precisely and efficiently.”

“This Blue Ring Pathfinder is equipped with storage and compute virtualization to demonstrate anomaly detection using machine learning. Its mission kit provides high-performance, radiation-tolerant compute and storage akin to today’s cloud-based offerings,” Limp concluded.

“We’re excited to demonstrate Blue Ring’s advanced in-space operations on New Glenn’s inaugural mission,” said Paul Ebertz, Senior Vice President of Blue Origin’s In-Space Systems. “Blue Ring plays a critical role in building a road to space, and this mission is an important first step for Blue Ring and enabling dynamic and responsive operations that will greatly benefit our nation.”

New Glenn Launching This Year?

The headline for the Blue Ring announcement had an interesting statement: “Blue Ring Pathfinder Payload Ready for Launch; Blue Origin’s New Glenn on Track for This Year.”

Dave Limp also said on December 8 that Blue is awaiting “regulatory approvals for hotfire and launch” of New Glenn. Presumably, that is an FAA license to launch as well as approval from the Space Force that Blue Origin for the static fire and also that New Glenn ready for flight from a range safety and operations standpoint.

While Blue Origin waits for the paperwork to be finished, they have been conducting fueling operations on New Glenn at LC-36.

There are three weeks left in 2024.

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Artist's rendering of AST BlueBird satellites in orbit. Via: Blue Origin
An artist rendering of AST Mobile satellites in orbit.
Graphic: Blue Origin via X.com

Business is picking up at Blue Origin, as the company and AST Mobile announced yesterday that Blue and New Glenn have been selected for multiple launches of AST’s next-generation Block 2 BlueBird satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO). According to both companies, the launches will occur over a multi-year period.

Both Companies Comment On The Contract

“New Glenn’s performance and unprecedented capacity within its seven-meter fairing enables us to deploy more of our Block 2 BlueBird satellites in orbit, helping provide continuous cellular broadband service coverage across some of the most in-demand cellular markets globally,” said Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, AST SpaceMobile in a press release.

“It’s an honor to support AST SpaceMobile’s deployment of their next generation BlueBird satellites, which will expand connectivity across the globe and positively impact many lives,” said Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp in the same press release. “New Glenn is purpose-built for these kinds of innovative and ambitious missions.” 

New Glenn Set To Fly For First Time In the Next Six Weeks

New Glenn is anticipated to make its maiden flight sometime this year, though Blue Origin has not announced a specific date for that launch. The company recently assembled the first and second-stage flight hardware for that first flight, with other preparations still continuing.

Blue Origin also received a water deluge permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in the past couple of weeks, clearing the way for BO to fire up New Glenn’s seven BE-4 engines for both a pre-launch static fire and the launch of New Glenn itself. The water deluge system is part of the vital sound suppression system used at Launch Complex 36 to protect New Glenn on its initial ascent.

The company still needs an FAA permit for the flight, but one is expected soon.

The partially assembled rocket set to fly the maiden launch of New Glenn for Blue Origin
Photo: Blue Origin, via X.com

With its BlueBird satellites, AST Mobile is building a constellation of “low-latency broadband satellites” that it will use to serve both the commercial and consumer marketplace. According to the company, AST Mobile’s technology will “operate directly with everyday smartphones and allow seamless switching between terrestrial cell towers and satellite signals depending on location and coverage needs.”

AST Mobile Partnering with Nearly 50 Companies With BlueBird

In 2024, AST SpaceMobile has secured additional strategic investment from AT&T, Verizon, Google and Vodafone, and new contract awards with the United States Government, directly and through prime contractors. The company has agreements with more than 45 mobile network operators globally, which have over 2.8 billion existing subscribers total.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Launching BlueBird 1-5 for AST Mobile on September 24, 2024.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Launching BlueBird 1-5 for AST Mobile on September 24, 2024.
Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT

The first five BlueBird satellites launched by AST SpaceMobile were launched on September 12, 2024. The BlueBirds are the largest commercial communications arrays ever deployed, with each satellite’s antenna covering 693 square feet. The satellites are designed to provide direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity to mobile phones.

  • BlueBird 1: COSPAR: 2024-163C
  • BlueBird 2: COSPAR: 2024-163D
  • BlueBird 3: COSPAR: 2024-163A
  • BlueBird 4: COSPAR: 2024-163E 
  • BlueBird 5: COSPAR: 2024-163B

The satellites were launched from Cape Canaveral on a SpaceX Falcon 9 on September 12, 2024.

According to AST Mobile, the launches purchased in this contract will fly in 2025 and 2026, with around sixty BlueBird Block 2 satellites as the payload. New Glenn, with its seven-meter fairing, can launch up to eight BlueBird Block 2 in a single launch, so while it was not specifically noted by either company, it sounds like at least seven or eight New Glenn launches will be needed to meet the goal of lofting sixty satellites.

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New Glenn second stage during static firing on September 23, 2024 in Cape Canaveral.
Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, provided this view of yesterday’s second-stage static fire.
Photo: Blue Origin / Dave Limp via X.com

Blue Origin has achieved another milestone yesterday in their ramp-up to the maiden launch of their first orbital rocket when they static-fired the second stage of New Glenn for around fifteen seconds at SLC-36 at Cape Canaveral on September 23rd.

Note: Blue Origin refers to the second-stage of the vehicle as GS2.

According to Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, “GS2 is one of the largest and most capable upper stages ever developed with a propellant load comparable to a Delta IV booster. The two BE-3Us have a maximum thrust of up to 346,000 lbf (173,000 lbf per engine), which is the equivalent thrust of a dozen F-16 jets.”

That’s a lot of power, but it is only the launch vehicle’s second stage. The first stage of New Glenn produces 3,850,000 lbf of thrust, roughly half of a Saturn V. Whether there will be a full static fire of the booster has not been announced.

According to Blue Origin, New Glenn is slated to fly in November from Cape Canaveral.

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Artist’s rendering of New Glenn in flight.
Graphic: Blue Origin

NASA has decided to forego an attempt to launch the twin ESCAPADE in October aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn on its maiden flight:

NASA announced Friday it will not fuel the two ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft at this time, foregoing the mission’s upcoming October launch window. While future launch opportunities are under review, the next possible earliest launch date is spring 2025.

The agency’s decision to stand down was based on a review of launch preparations and discussions with Blue Origin, the Federal Aviation Administration, and Space Launch Delta 45 Range Safety Organization, as well as NASA’s Launch Services Program and Science Mission Directorate. 

NASA

In their press release announcing the delay, NASA also stated that they are exploring opportunities to launch the ESCAPADE satellites “no earlier than the Spring of 2025.”

Illustration of ESCAPADE twin spacecraft entering Mars’ orbit.
Credits: James Rattray/Rocket Lab USA

“This is an important mission for NASA, and it’s critical we have sufficient margin in our prelaunch work to ensure we are ready to fly a tight planetary window,” said Bradley Smith, NASA’s Launch Services Office director at NASA Headquarters.

New Glenn Maiden Launch Shifts Right to NET November

Blue Origin stated on X.com today that New Glenn’s first launch will now be in November and will carry their Blue Ring satellite.

Rocket Lab Reacts

Rocket Lab, who built the two ESCAPADE probes, said this after the announcement:

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