Blue Origin New Glenn Thread 2: Updates and Discussion

[catdlr]

In the video, you can see the light of a drone hovering. I hope they release the video; the Blue Origin public comms department has been slacking lately.

Perhaps Dave Limp is reading my posts

I guess so

Dave Limp
@davill
·

Sharing a couple photos of our GS2s in build and getting their final touches inside our Rocket Park Factory. It's getting a little crowded, but that's exactly the point, manufacturing rate matters.

https://twitter.com/davill/status/2031422248653922310

[sstli2]

Great to see a status update. I spot:

- GS2-6 in test & closeout work center.
- GS2-7 in final assembly work center.
- GS2-8 in tank assembly work center.
- GS2-9, GS2-10 completed tanks. GS2-9 I believe has been through proof testing, unsure about GS2-10.
- GS2-11 tank welding almost complete.

- GS1-4 aft and forward modules continuing progress.
- GS1-4 mid module not present. That may already be in the FAB.

[Starshipdown]

Great to see a status update. I spot:

- GS2-6 in final assembly.
- GS2-7 in final assembly.
- GS2-8 in tank assembly work center.
- GS2-9, GS2-10 completed tanks. GS2-9 I believe has been through proof testing, unsure about GS2-10.
- GS2-11 with tank welding complete.

- GS1-4 aft and forward modules continuing progress.
- GS1-4 mid module not present. That may already be in the FAB.

The GS1-3 is already over to FAB along with the interstage forward module. Nothing's been announced about the GS1-3 aft module testing. But if it's done, it's also there.

[sstli2]

The GS1-3 is already over to FAB along with the interstage forward module. Nothing's been announced about the GS1-3 aft module testing. But if it's done, it's also there.

I didn't reference GS1-3. I referenced GS1-4. That was intentional.

GS1-3 is having engines installed at this point. It's almost done.

[Tywin]

Blue is moving FAST now

I hope soon with 3-4 booster recovery the cadence only will go super UP...

[Robert_the_Doll]

GS1-3 is having engines installed at this point. It's almost done.

Where did you get that? I have seen nothing on L-2 nor from Blue Origin employees on Reddit that support that. GS1-3 is not quite that close to being ready. It is at least a month, possibly two from completion. GS1-2 is close enough that it might launch at the end of the month.

[tottaway22]

Is the Viasat DarkSky 1-2 the test internet transmitter flying on New Glenn or something different? FCC just granted the STA for it to launch between March 4th and April 9th.
SES-STA-20260108-00710

https://fccprod.servicenowservices.com/icfs?id=ibfs_search&q=viasat


"Viasat, Inc. hereby requests special temporary authority (“STA”), for thirty (30) days
commencing March 4, 2026, to use its transmit/receive earth station in Pendergrass, Georgia, to
communicate with the DarkSky-1-2 flight system to provide telemetry, tracking, and command
(“TT&C”) services during the demonstration mission.1 The Commission previously granted
STA to allow Viasat to use its Pendergrass earth station to provide TT&C services to support this
mission,2 but launch of the DarkSky-1-2 system was subsequently delayed repeatedly.3 By this
application, Viasat seeks to replicate that STA and align its term with the expected launch date,
as updated.
This request is of a temporary nature as the DarkSky-1-2 mission will be a short duration
mission of less than 24 hours."

[catdlr]

Now Tory will give us a peek.

Tory Bruno
@torybruno
·

Ok. Since you asked so nicely, here’s a few from the NG factory. Can’t beat a rocket factory… And the folks taking me around are awesome.

Anything else?

https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/2031867159605911821

[sstli2]

Last picture appears to be GS1-3, in the FAB, sans an aft section. Date of photo unclear, nevertheless, I expect that we will see a completed GS1-3 make an appearance relatively soon.

[Robert_the_Doll]

https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/2031907979990290741/photo/1

Ok, By popular demand, here's some snaps at the pad and integration facility.  Heck of a view!

[Robert_the_Doll]

This is our first view, even if blurry, of Never Tell Me The Odds since it returned home after NG-2.

[Brigantine]

175K of thrust

175kN? 175⁰K? 

In April 2025, Dave Limp announced a static fire had been conducted on the New Glenn second stage which increased the maximum thrust of the BE-3U to 778 kN (175,000 lbf).

Ok, so he's referring to a thrust of 778kN per engine

Which is less than:

In November 2025, Dave Limp announced another demonstrated performance increase for BE-3U, this time increasing maximum thrust to 941 kN (211,500 lbf).

[StarSailor]

175K of thrust

175kN? 175⁰K? 

In April 2025, Dave Limp announced a static fire had been conducted on the New Glenn second stage which increased the maximum thrust of the BE-3U to 778 kN (175,000 lbf).

Ok, so he's referring to a thrust of 778kN per engine

Which is less than:

In November 2025, Dave Limp announced another demonstrated performance increase for BE-3U, this time increasing maximum thrust to 941 kN (211,500 lbf).

Yeah that makes sense.   The Nov 2025 is peak test stand performance.  BO has plans to uprate the engines to a little below that 890 kN (200,000 lbf).   It would seem GS2-5 is still using older engines.  Entirely possible GS2-6 and GS2-7 are as well.

On edit: fixed stage numbers

[tottaway22]

175K of thrust

175kN? 175⁰K? 

In April 2025, Dave Limp announced a static fire had been conducted on the New Glenn second stage which increased the maximum thrust of the BE-3U to 778 kN (175,000 lbf).

Ok, so he's referring to a thrust of 778kN per engine

Which is less than:

In November 2025, Dave Limp announced another demonstrated performance increase for BE-3U, this time increasing maximum thrust to 941 kN (211,500 lbf).

Yeah that makes sense.   The Nov 2025 is peak test stand performance.  BO has plans to uprate the engines to a little below that 890 kN (200,000 lbf).   It would seem GS2-3 is still using older engines.  Entirely possible GS2-4 and GS2-5 are as well.

This static fire last week was GS2-5 & GS2-4 was fired in December. GS2-6 should be after NG3 launches.

[StarSailor]

175K of thrust

175kN? 175⁰K? 

In April 2025, Dave Limp announced a static fire had been conducted on the New Glenn second stage which increased the maximum thrust of the BE-3U to 778 kN (175,000 lbf).

Ok, so he's referring to a thrust of 778kN per engine

Which is less than:

In November 2025, Dave Limp announced another demonstrated performance increase for BE-3U, this time increasing maximum thrust to 941 kN (211,500 lbf).

Yeah that makes sense.   The Nov 2025 is peak test stand performance.  BO has plans to uprate the engines to a little below that 890 kN (200,000 lbf).   It would seem GS2-3 is still using older engines.  Entirely possible GS2-4 and GS2-5 are as well.

This static fire last week was GS2-5 & GS2-4 was fired in December. GS2-6 should be after NG3 launches.

Thanks for the correction.  Will be interesting to see is GS2-6 has uprated egines.

[Starshipdown]

https://twitter.com/davill/status/2033945277384823302

Our engine shop at Rocket Park continues to hum. The next BE-4 shipset is ready for install on our third New Glenn booster.

[StarSailor]

Anyone know what they mean by "shipset" do they mean all 7 engines for booster 3 are ready?

[Moonwatcher]

Anyone know what they mean by "shipset" do they mean all 7 engines for booster 3 are ready?

Yes, a shipset would be the set of engines needed for the "ship". If you look closely, you can see all seven engines in the image.

[Starshipdown]

Anyone know what they mean by "shipset" do they mean all 7 engines for booster 3 are ready?

Yes, a shipset would be the set of engines needed for the "ship". If you look closely, you can see all seven engines in the image.

If you look at last years' posting on the shipset for GS1-2, they will also sometimes include a spare 8th engine.

[TrevorMonty]

https://twitter.com/davill/status/2033945277384823302

Our engine shop at Rocket Park continues to hum. The next BE-4 shipset is ready for install on our third New Glenn booster.

Trolley has weights on it, I think BE4 is about 10,000lbs.