New Glenn Rocket Nears Launch After Successful Engine Test-Firing
CAPE CANAVERAL,FL – Blue origin’s New Glenn rocket is on track for a potential launch as early as November 9th following a successful static fire test of all seven of its BE-4 engines Thursday night at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The 38-second test, which saw the engines burn while the rocket remained anchored to the launch pad, represents the final major milestone before liftoff.
The test-firing, completed at 9:59 pm EDT (01:59 UTC Friday), demonstrated full power operation for 22 seconds, generating nearly 3.9 million pounds of thrust. Engineers also simulated a booster landing burn sequence by shutting down some engines, a critical step toward achieving reusability.
“Love seeing New Glenn’s seven BE-4 engines come alive! Congratulations to Team Blue on today’s hotfire,” Blue Origin CEO dave Limp posted on X.
This upcoming mission is crucial for Blue Origin’s ambitions to recover and reuse the New Glenn first stage, a goal unmet during the rocket’s inaugural launch in January. Successful recovery is vital, as the company plans to utilize this same booster on the third New Glenn launch early next year to send its Blue Moon lunar lander toward the Moon. A failure to land the rocket could delay future missions until sometime in 2026.
Following the test, the 320-foot-tall rocket will be moved to a hangar for inspection. Technicians will then prepare the vehicle for its payload: a clamshell containing two NASA-owned spacecraft destined for Mars.
