The street to the second flight of Blue Origin's heavy-lifting New Glenn rocket acquired so much clearer Thursday evening with successful test-firing of the launcher's seven principal engines on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral Area Pressure Station, Florida.
Standing on a seaside launch pad, the New Glenn rocket ignited its seven BE-4 principal engines at 9:59 pm EDT Thursday (01:59 UTC Friday). The engines burned for 38 seconds whereas the rocket remained firmly on the bottom, in accordance with a social media post by Blue Origin.
The hold-down firing of the primary stage engines was the ultimate main check of the New Glenn rocket earlier than launch day. Blue Origin beforehand test-fired the rocket's second-stage engines. Officers haven't introduced a goal launch date, however sources inform Ars the rocket may very well be prepared for liftoff as quickly as November 9.
“Love seeing New Glenn's seven BE-4 engines come alive! Congratulations to Staff Blue on right this moment's hotfire,” the corporate's CEO, Dave Limp, posted on X.
Blue Origin, the area firm owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, mentioned the engines operated at full energy for 22 seconds, producing practically 3.9 million kilos of thrust. Limp mentioned engineers prolonged this test-firing and shut down a few of the BE-4 engines to simulate the booster's touchdown burn sequence, which Blue Origin hopes will culminate in a profitable landing on a barge floating downrange within the Atlantic Ocean.
“This helps us perceive fluid interactions between lively and inactive engine feedlines throughout touchdown,” Limp wrote.
Blue Origin is relying on recovering the New Glenn first stage on the subsequent flight after lacking the touchdown on the rocket's inaugural mission in January. Officers plan to reuse this booster on the third New Glenn launch early subsequent 12 months, slated to propel Blue Origin's first unpiloted Blue Moon lander towards the Moon. If Blue Origin fails to land this rocket, it's unlikely a brand new first stage booster might be able to launch till someday later in 2026.
Just a few extra issues to do
With the test-firing full, Blue Origin's floor crew will decrease the greater than 320-foot-tall (98-meter) rocket and roll it again to a close-by hangar. There, technicians will examine the car and swap its payload fairing for one more clamshell containing two NASA-owned spacecraft set to start their journey to Mars.
