Blue Origin Works Towards New Glenn Debut, Ramps BE-4 Deliveries - NASASpaceFlight.Com

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In The News:

• NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 mission splashes down in Pacific Ocean: The mission marks the first crewed flight operated by SpaceX for NASA since its debut in 2020. (Source: CNBC) • Boeing's Starliner fails to reach orbit on test flight: The spacecraft, intended to transport NASA astronauts to the International Space Station, experienced an unidentified problem during its climb to orbit. (Source: Reuters) • Blue Origin's New Shepard completes first test flight with humans on board: The suborbital flight carried a duo of company employees to the edge of space and back, marking a significant milestone for the private space company. (Source: CNN) • China's Long March 5B rocket set to debut with Jingyali 1 mission: The heavy-lift launch vehicle is expected to lift off with the country's first Mars sample return mission... aiming to collect samples from the red planet. (Source: Spaceflight Now) • European Space Agency's JUICE mission to Jupiter's icy moons begins: The spacecraft, named Juice, will explore Jupiter's Gallilean moons Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, "as well as the Jovian magnetosphere." (Source: ESA) • NASA's Perseverance Mars rover discovers evidence of ancient lake: The rover detected sedimentary rocks and lake-bed deposits on Mars, "hinting at a watery past on the red planet." (Source: Science) • Russia's gov't approves plan for lunar exploration program: The program aims to send Russian cosmonauts to the Moon's surface by 2024... with the ultimate goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the lunar surface. (Source: TASS)

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Over the past few months, Blue Origin has been busy progressing on many of its projects as target dates move closer. New Glenn continues to inch closer to launch, facilities are being expanded, BE-4 engines have been delivered to ULA, and New Shepard has returned to crewed flights.
New Glenn

With the September launch window of NASA's EscaPADE Mars mission closing in, teams are working through the tail-end of tests at Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) to prepare the site for its first static fire and launch.

On March 12, Blue rolled back the New Glenn Pathfinder first stage after completing cryogenic and ground system testing on the launch pad. The 7-meter-wide and 45-meter-long stage made the trek back to the company's campus at Exploration Park, just outside the gates of Kennedy Space Center.

The New Glenn first stage pathfinder is transported back to the factory following cryogenic testing. (Credit: Max Evans for NSF)

While back inside the first stage integration facility, it is likely that the stage is being closely inspected following its round of testing. From there, the stage will be integrated with an engine section and BE-4 engines that could support a static fire alongside a flight-ready interstage and possible aero surfaces. It is still unclear if this booster will fly with the same hardware it performs the static fire with, or if there will be further upgrades before the vehicle is flight-ready.

More recently, on May 23, the New Glenn Simulator rolled to the pad on the main transporter erector to support further pad testing. According to Blue Origin, the tests will involve powering up pumps to pressurize the vehicle's hydraulic system, using ground systems to supply commodities to the rocket, and a rapid retract test of the umbilical connections. Such tests are an important part of the launch countdown for both a new rocket and new launch pad infrastructure.

A long-awaited update on New Glenn's sea-based landing platform recently arrived as Landing Platform Vessel 1 was relocated from Romania to France. The modified barge is still under construction as large amounts of scaffolding remain onboard. According to documentation, the vessel has a size of 116 x 46 m. It is currently unclear when it will be transported to Port Canaveral ⁘ but when it does, it will bring New Glenn one step closer to launch.