New Glenn

Blue Origin New Glenn
	A launch of a New Glenn 7×2 carrying ESCAPADE, on November 13, 2025
Function	Heavy to super heavy-lift launch vehicle
Manufacturer	Blue Origin
Country of origin	United States
Project cost	At least US$2.5 billion
Cost per launch	US$68–110 million
Size
Height	98 m (322 ft)
Diameter	7 m (23 ft)
Stages	2
Capacity
Payload to LEO
Mass	7×2: 45,000 kg (99,000 lb); 9×4: >70,000 kg (150,000 lb);
Payload to GTO
Mass	7×2: 13,600 kg (30,000 lb);
Payload to GSO
Mass	9×4: >14,000 kg (31,000 lb);
Payload to TLI
Mass	7×2: 7,000 kg (15,000 lb); 9×4: >20,000 kg (44,000 lb);
Associated rockets
Comparable	Angara A5; Ariane 6; Falcon Heavy; Long March 5; NGLV; Vulcan Centaur;
Launch history
Status	Active
Launch sites	Cape Canaveral, LC‑36; Vandenberg, SLC‑9 (future)
Total launches	2
Success(es)	2
Landings	1 / 2 attempts
First flight	January 16, 2025
Last flight	November 13, 2025 (ESCAPADE, most recent)
Carries passengers or cargo	Blue Ring; Blue Moon; BlueBird (AST SpaceMobile); Amazon Leo; NSSL;
First stage – GS1
Height	57.5 m (189 ft)
Diameter	7 m (23 ft)
Powered by	7×2: 7 × BE-4; 9×4: 9 × BE-4;
Maximum thrust	7×2: 19,928 kN (4,480,000 lbf); 9×4: 25,622 kN (5,760,000 lbf);
Specific impulse	340 s (3.3 km/s) (vac.)
Burn time	190 seconds
Propellant	LOX / CH4
Second stage – GS2
Height	23.4 m (77 ft)
Diameter	7 m (23 ft)
Powered by	7×2: 2 × BE-3U; 9×4: 4 × BE-3U;
Maximum thrust	7×2: 1,779 kN (400,000 lbf); 9×4: 3,558 kN (800,000 lbf);
Specific impulse	445 s (4.36 km/s)
Burn time	644 seconds
Propellant	LOX / LH2

New Glenn is a family of launch vehicles developed and operated by the American company Blue Origin. The rocket has two configurations, one operational and one under development, both using a two stage partially reusable design with a seven meter (23 ft) diameter.

Development of New Glenn began prior to 2013 and was officially announced in 2016. The rocket is named in honor of NASA astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. The inaugural vehicle was unveiled on the launch pad in February 2024. Its maiden flight took place on January 16, 2025 from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36. Carrying the Blue Ring Pathfinder, the launch served as the first of several demonstration flights required for certification for the National Security Space Launch program.

As with Blue Origin's suborbital New Shepard rocket, New Glenn's first stage is designed for reuse. It lands at sea on a modified barge called Landing Platform Vessel 1. On November 13, 2025, the first stage achieved its first successful landing following New Glenn's second flight. New Glenn is scheduled to launch Blue Origin's Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander on robotic missions planned for early 2026 and late 2027.

The original version of New Glenn, or New Glenn 7×2, is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed and operated by the American company Blue Origin. The first stage is powered by seven BE-4 engines, while the second stage uses two BE-3U engines, both designed and built by Blue Origin. It launches from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36, with future missions planned from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 9. It is one of three operational US heavy-lift rockets, alongside United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur and SpaceX's Falcon Heavy.

A super heavy-lift version called New Glenn 9×4 is in development as of 2025. It features nine BE-4 engines on the first stage, four BE-3U engines on the second stage, and an enlarged payload fairing measuring 8.7 meters (29 ft) in diameter.