New Glenn Prepares for Launch with ‘Blue Ring’ Test Payload
Blue Origin announced Tuesday that the test payload for the inaugural flight of its New Glenn rocket is ready for liftoff.
An image released by the company depicted the “Blue Ring” pathfinder nestled against one half of the rocket’s payload fairing, providing a striking visual of New Glenn’s impressive size.
“There is a growing demand to quickly move and position equipment and infrastructure in multiple orbits,” said Dave Limp, Blue Origin’s chief executive, on LinkedIn. “Blue Ring has advanced propulsion and communication capabilities for government and commercial customers to handle these maneuvers precisely and efficiently.”
This announcement appears to serve a double purpose, hinting at both the rocket’s capabilities and a not-so-subtle nudge to regulators.
The spaciousness of New Glenn’s payload fairing is readily apparent, even with the relatively small ‘Blue Ring’ payload. At 7 meters (23 feet) in diameter, it significantly surpasses the more conventional 5-meter (16.4-feet) diameter fareings of most boosters.
Blue Origin’s move could be strategically aimed at the Federal Aviation Administration and other regulatory agencies, suggesting that New Glenn is prepared for flight. The company is awaiting approval to conduct a crucial hot fire test at Launch Complex-36 in Florida, followed by a liftoff.
While the announcement highlighted the company’s progress, it stopped short of providing a specific launch date.
While the company stated that New Glenn is “on track” for launch this year, the hot-fire test itself has encountered several delays since the rocket’s arrival at the launch pad on November 23. Initial targets for the test were set for November, followed by a more recent target date of this past weekend.
“There is a growing demand to move items around quickly,” Limp stated. The ‘Blue Ring’ specifically addresses this, signaling a shift in how Blue Origin approaches orbital maneuvering.
The focus on the “Blue Ring” pathfinder could also signify a broader strategy from Blue Origin.
Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos brought in Limp from Amazon a little over a year ago to usher in a more agile and responsive culture within the company. Limp’s mission is to get New Glenn soaring by the end of 2024. After years of development delays, the original target launch date of 2020 has now passed, making this first launch a deeply significant event for the company.
