Blue Origin edges closer to New Glenn rocket’s maiden flight

Blue Origin is gearing up to conduct a crucial wet dress rehearsal in preparation for the inaugural flight of the New Glenn rocket, scheduled to take place before the end of the year.

Dave Limp, the CEO of the company, announced on X that Blue Origin has been given the green light to proceed with the wet dress rehearsal this week ahead of a hotfire test of the rocket’s engines.

A wet dress rehearsal is a critical step in rocket launch preparations, allowing engineers to ensure that all systems are functioning properly before liftoff. The use of real cryogenic fuels during the rehearsal simulates actual launch conditions, testing the rocket’s systems under realistic circumstances. The process involves loading the rocket with propellants and simulating the countdown process up to just before liftoff.

During the wet dress rehearsal, Blue Origin will also be seeking approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for the hotfire test and launch.

The highly anticipated launch of Blue Origin’s first orbital, two-stage rocket will take place from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This marks a significant milestone for the spaceflight company, which has previously only flown the single-stage suborbital New Shepard rocket.

The upcoming NG-1 mission will carry the Blue Ring Pathfinder payload, testing key technologies for Blue Origin’s future orbital transfer vehicle. This payload includes a communications array, power system, and flight computer, which will be evaluated during a six-hour mission attached to the rocket’s second stage.

The New Glenn rocket stands at about 320 feet tall and features a seven-meter payload fairing with double the volume of standard commercial launch systems. Blue Origin describes the fairing as large enough to hold three school buses.

Overall, Blue Origin’s wet dress rehearsal and upcoming launch represent significant milestones for the company as it expands its capabilities in the space industry.