14
votes
Why two engines on stage 2 of New Glenn if it's disposable?
In 2015-2016, the New Glenn design was expected to use a single BE-4 methane-LOX engine on the second stage (about 2400kN thrust), and a single BE-3 (the same as the suborbital New Shepard's single ...
- 172k
13
votes
Accepted
What do the banana values mean in this tweeted plot of heavy lift vehicle capabilities?
For most of the vehicles there seems to be a correlation between size and "banana number", which is not yet a SI-recognized unit of measure (And I really hope they don't decide to keep a ...
- 15.2k
10
votes
Accepted
Has Blue Origin carried out any flight or landing tests of the New Glenn first stage?
No, Blue Origin has not carried out any flight or landing tests of the New Glenn first stage.
They have conducted hotfire tests of their BE-3 and BE-4 engines, as well as cryogenic testing as LC-36, ...
- 526
5
votes
What are the pods on stage 1 of Blue Origin's New Glenn?
Based on other promotional images of New Glenn that show it from different angles, they would appear to be fins:
(Note how the edge appears to be sharp, suggesting a thin shape)
(source)
- 153
4
votes
Accepted
New Glenn Rocket Assembly: Horizontal or Vertical?
Blue Origin's manufacturing facility in Florida is already built and built horizontally for New Glenn:
Also, their launch pad SLC-36 has what looks like a horizontal hangar (similar to what Space-X ...
- 10.1k
3
votes
What do the banana values mean in this tweeted plot of heavy lift vehicle capabilities?
Since the banana-for-scale row isn't given separately for LEO, GTO, TLI, I think is is something which is mission / trajectory / orbit invariant.
My guess it that it is volume (or equivalently number ...
2
votes
What are the pods on stage 1 of Blue Origin's New Glenn?
They are "strakes" aka fins.
Large aerodynamic strakes on the aft end
of the tanks give the returning first stage enhanced cross-range during descent
and reentry.
Source: New Glenn Payload ...
- 189k
2
votes
New Glenn/Shepard gimbal engine actuators: hydraulic or electric?
Partial answer:
According to a parts supplier, New Shepard uses a hydraulic system.
JASC designed and manufactured the Flight Control System Actuators and the engine Thrust Vector Control Actuators ...
- 189k
2
votes
Accepted
What rocket would Blue Origin go to Moon with?
The National Team proposal comprised three separate vehicles, a Transfer Element provided by Northrop Grumman, a Descent Element provided by Blue Origin, and an Ascent Element provided by Lockheed ...
- 77.4k
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