Blue Origin has made further progress on its space mission by successfully completing the second stage of ignition testing on its New Glenn rocket. This critical system validation phase was performed at Cape Canaveral, Florida, where the vehicle is being prepared for its first flight, scheduled for November of this year. The initial payload will be the innovative Blue Ring technology.
Key tests in the second stage of the New Glenn
The ignition test, which lasted 15 seconds, marked a key moment, as it was the first time the New Glenn rocket was operated as an integrated system. During this phase, the interactions between the second stage subsystems and the BE-3U engines, in addition to the ground control systems, were evaluated, ensuring that the rocket rocket is fully ready for future missions.
Three critical systems were validated: the tank pressurization system, which uses helium to stabilize the hydrogen and oxygen tanks during flight; the thrust vector control system, which steers the rocket during its journey; and the startup and shutdown sequences of the BE-3U engines, designed to restart up to three times in a single mission. These features underscore the New Glenn’s ability to operate in a variety of different types of Earth orbits.
The second stage of the New GlennThe 26.8-meter-tall, 7-meter-diameter second stage is prepared to carry out high-energy missions. Thanks to the BE-3Uengines, which have exceeded expectations in previous tests, the stage offers a remarkable balance between thrust and efficiency, making it a crucial asset for long-term missions.
This breakthrough is a significant step in Blue Origin’s vision to bring millions of people to live and work in space, harnessing its vast resources to preserve the Earth. As the company moves toward the first flight of the New Glenn, its ambitious goal of democratizing access to space is becoming increasingly tangible.
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Source and photos: Blue Origin