Blue Origin New Glenn: Successful test run of the second heavy-duty rocket stage
Before the first launch of Blue Origin's heavy-lift rocket New Glenn in November, a hotfire test of the second rocket stage took place.
The hotfire test of the second rocket stage of the New Glenn.
(Image: Blue Origin)
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' space company, Blue Origin, successfully conducted a hot-fire test on the second stage of the New Glenn heavy-lift rocket (GS2) on Monday. The test was necessary to check the interaction between the subsystems of the second stage, the two engines and the ground control systems before the planned launch in November.
The hot start test lasted around 15 seconds, Blue Origin writes in a press release. In addition to the interaction between the second stage rocket, the BE-3U engines and ground control systems, the tank pressure control system, which pressurizes the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks with helium during the flight, was also tested. Blue Origin engineers also tested the thrust vector control system. This ensures that the gimbal-mounted engines can be controlled during flight.
The start and shutdown sequences of the BE-3U engine systems were also validated. They can be restarted up to three times during a space mission.
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In addition to the hot ignition test, the launch crew was able to practice the procedures required for the rocket launch. They also checked the timing for a number of critical processes.
Powerful heavy-duty rocket
The New Glenn heavy-lift rocket is over 98 meters tall. The first stage is fueled by seven BE-4 engines. According to Blue Origin, these are said to be the most powerful liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled, oxygen-rich staged combustion engines ever to have flown in a rocket. Blue Origin promises that this rocket stage can be reused up to 25 times.
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The second rocket stage being tested is intended for "demanding, high-energy missions" to low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO) and geosynchronous orbit (GEO). The stage is approximately 26.8 m high. The diameter is 7 meters. Each of the two BE-3U engines develops a vacuum thrust of 173,000 lbf, originally they were only designed for 160,000 lbf. The rocket engines are among the hydrogen engines with the highest thrust-to-weight ratio.
The New Glenn (NG-1) is scheduled to make its maiden flight in November. The launch is to take place from Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral in the US state of Florida. On board the rocket will be the Blue Ring platform for carrying payloads such as satellites.
(olb)
