New Glenn's first stage, Glenn Stage 1 or GS1, is designed to be reusable for a minimum of 25 flights, and lands vertically, a technology previously developed by Blue Origin and tested in 2015–2016 on its New Shepard suborbital launch vehicle.
The GS1 stands 57.5 m (189 ft) tall, and is 7 m (23 ft) across. The second stage (GS2), which is tall and is also 7 m (23 ft) across. GS2 is expendable. Both stages use orthogrid aluminum tanks with welded aluminum domes and common bulkheads, as well as autogenous pressurization.
The first stage is powered by seven BE-4 methane/oxygen engines—designed and manufactured by Blue Origin—producing of liftoff thrust. The BE-4 engines are arranged with one in the center, and an external ring of the remaining six. The center BE-4 and two opposing engines from the outer ring (the engines in line with the strakes) can gimbal and relight for reentry and landing burns.
The New Glenn second stage is powered by two restart BE-3U vacuum optimized engines, also designed and manufactured by Blue Origin, using hydrogen/oxygen as propellants.
The GS1 first flew on the first New Glenn flight, NG-1. The booster on this flight, GS1-1, failed during the entry burn. The first time a GS1 propulsively landed was on NG-2, with GS1-2. GS1-2 was reused and reflown on NG-3. GS1-3, at the time fully completed and flight worthy, exploded during a pre-flight static fire and was lost.
Booster landings
List of boosters
Booster Launches Launch date Flight No. Turnaround time Payload Launch outcome(pad) Landing(location) StatusGS1-1So You're Telling Me There's a Chance1January 16, 2025 NG-1Blue Ring Pathfinder (LC-36) (Jacklyn) GS1-2Never Tell Me The Odds 2 NG-2 ESCAPADE(Blue & Gold)(LC-36) (Jacklyn) rowspan=2 NG-3 157 days BlueBird 7 (LC-36) (Jacklyn) GS1-3No, It's Necessary 0 LeoSat × 48(LN‑01)(LC-36) GS1-4 — NG-x rowspan=1 GS1-5 — NG-x rowspan=1
See also List of New Glenn launches
References