Jeff Bezos' space technology company Blue Origin will build an upgraded version of its New Glenn rocket, including high-performance engines, and later launch a new super-heavy class rocket.
The upgrades will enhance the rockets’ reusability as well as their propulsion, Blue Origin said. New Glenn 9x4, its next super-heavy class rocket, will carry more than 70 metric tonnes to low-Earth orbit.
“These enhancements will immediately benefit customers already manifested on New Glenn to fly to destinations including low-Earth orbit, the Moon, and beyond,” wrote Blue Origin.
“The next chapter in New Glenn’s roadmap is a new super-heavy class rocket.”
The company’s upgraded New Glenn rockets will include 4.5 million pound-force booster engines, increasing from the current 3.9 million pound-force engines.
Engines for its upper stage will reach 400,000 pound-force of thrust, rising from 320,000 pound-force.
Its new super-heavy class rocket, New Glenn 9x4, will also be able to carry over 14 metric tonnes to geosynchronous orbit. Once built, both the 9x4 and current 7x2 rockets will be available for Blue Origin missions.
Blue Origin did not disclose an expected launch date for its first 9x4 rockets.
Bezos will also be co-CEO at new artificial intelligence startup Project Prometheus, the New York Times reported this week. Project Prometheus will reportedly develop AI for engineering and manufacturing, including aerospace.
