Author Topic: New Glenn Launch Manifest  (Read 61327 times)

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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New Glenn Launch Manifest
« on: 01/19/2019 10:42 am »
This thread is for discussion and updates of Blue Origin’s New Glenn manifest. The best guess at the current manifest is in this (maintained) post. Although launches are still a way off, I’ve created the thread now as there isn’t an easy way currently to find info about the various planned NG launches.

I’ve based the format on gongora’s excellent SpaceX manifest. Clearly a lot of blanks initially but I’m sure it’ll fill out nearer the time.

Sites:
      C-36 = Cape Canaveral Air Force Station SLC-

U.S. daylight saving time starts second Sunday in March, ends first Sunday in November, time changes at 2:00 a.m. local time

       Local        Core   Ret- .                             .   Mass   .     Mis-
Est. Date,  Time/UTCS/N    urn  Payload(s)                    Orb  (kg)   Sitesion
------------------- ------ ---  ------------------------------------  ---  -----  ----  ----
NET Nov 2024?SMaiden flightLEO?C-36.
NET Mar 2025?SBlue Origin Pathfinder Mission 1LEO?C-36.
NET Q1 2025?SAmazon Kuiper 15+ launchesLEO?C-36.
NET Q2 2025?SESCAPADE mission to MarsBEO?C-36.
--Status unknown:-- .......
202??SEutelsatGTO??C-36.
202??SOneWeb (5 launches of 80 sats each)MEO~12kC-36.
202??Smu Space??C-36.
202??SSKY Perfect JSAT??C-36.
2026??STelesat LEO constellationLEO?C-36.

Notes:
For status unknown launches see here.

Recent Edits:
Apr 11 2023  Added ESCAPADE NET date
Feb 18 2023  Tidied up long quiet launch announcements
Feb 10 2023  Added ESCAPADE & Kuiper
Jan 31 2019  Added Telesat LEO constellation
Jan 19 2019  Created thread

Please feel free to post comments and updates.
« Last Edit: 10/20/2024 06:52 am by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline Slarty1080

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #1 on: 01/19/2019 02:59 pm »
Is the lack of launches due to lack of customer interest (ready to fly but no takers) or lack of Blue Origin readiness (lots of interest but not ready to fly yet)?
My optimistic hope is that it will become cool to really think about things... rather than just doing reactive bullsh*t based on no knowledge (Brian Cox)

Offline Jarnis

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #2 on: 01/19/2019 04:18 pm »
Is the lack of launches due to lack of customer interest (ready to fly but no takers) or lack of Blue Origin readiness (lots of interest but not ready to fly yet)?

As usual with new launchers, vast majority of the market shows little interest until it has actually flown at least once or twice. Salespeople have to reaaaally work on those first contracts - usually with hefty discounts.
« Last Edit: 01/19/2019 04:19 pm by Jarnis »

Offline Lemurion

Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #3 on: 01/19/2019 04:58 pm »
Is the lack of launches due to lack of customer interest (ready to fly but no takers) or lack of Blue Origin readiness (lots of interest but not ready to fly yet)?

As usual with new launchers, vast majority of the market shows little interest until it has actually flown at least once or twice. Salespeople have to reaaaally work on those first contracts - usually with hefty discounts.


Yeah, I'm less worried about how small the number is than I am impressed at how large it is. Blue appears to have eight paid launches lined up before achieving orbit for the first time. That's no small accomplishment.

Offline ncb1397

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #4 on: 01/19/2019 05:09 pm »
Is the lack of launches due to lack of customer interest (ready to fly but no takers) or lack of Blue Origin readiness (lots of interest but not ready to fly yet)?

It is worth noting that SpaceX has 15 launches on the manifest for non-government customers. 8 commercial orders in the backlog is decent.

Offline meekGee

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #5 on: 01/19/2019 08:31 pm »
I dunno...

Five are from oneWeb, and Weiler was not going to launch SpaceX even when the alternative is soyuz.

One is (whistle whistle)

So while 8 is nice, the main takeaway is that if oneWeb fades away and is not supported by Bezos, then NG has 2 real competitive sales.

Which is not bad for where it is right now...

Now all NG has to do is make an appearance.
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Offline meekGee

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #6 on: 03/23/2020 08:01 pm »
Bump.

As OneWeb becomes predictably unviable and as talk of a rescue buy from Bezos becomes common, remember that OneWeb is NG's largest customer...
ABCD - Always Be Counting Down

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #7 on: 12/16/2020 08:38 pm »
https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1339323449265807360

Quote
NASA awards Blue Origin with a launch service contract for its New Glenn rocket, "with an ordering period through June 2025 and an overall period of performance through December 2027."

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-to-blue-origin-for-new-glenn-launch-services

Quote
Dec. 16, 2020
CONTRACT RELEASE C20-033

NASA Awards Launch Services Contract to Blue Origin for New Glenn Launch Services

NASA has awarded a NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract to Blue Origin and their New Glenn launch service in accordance with the contract’s on-ramp provision. The New Glenn launch service will be available to NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP) to use for future missions in accordance with the on-ramp provision of NLS II. 

The NLS II is a multiple-supplier, multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract vehicle with an ordering period through June 2025 and an overall period of performance through December 2027. Each supplier that is a part of NLS II has its own individual contract with LSP. The NLS II on-ramp provision provides an opportunity annually for new launch service providers to be added as a potential supplier and to compete for future NASA missions. The on-ramp provision also allows existing NLS II launch service providers to introduce launch vehicles not currently on its NLS II contract.

NLS II contractors must have the ability to successfully launch and deliver a payload to orbit using a domestic launch service capable of placing, at minimum, a 250 kg (551 lb.) payload into a 200 km (124 mile) circular orbit at an inclination of 28.5 degrees.

The NLS II contracts support the goals and objectives of the agency's Science Mission Directorate, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, and the Space Technology Mission Directorate. Under the contract, NASA can also provide launch services to other government agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

For more information about NASA’s Launch Services Program, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/launchingrockets/index.html

-end-

Edit to add:

https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1339325968691900418

Quote
The context here is that, while there isn't money attached to this specific contract award, it opens the door to Blue Origin bidding New Glenn on future NASA missions under the Launch Services Program.
« Last Edit: 12/16/2020 08:55 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #8 on: 12/16/2020 10:00 pm »
https://www.blueorigin.com/news/nasa-selects-new-glenn-for-launch-services-catalog

Quote
NEWS   DEC 16, 2020
NASA SELECTS BLUE ORIGIN’S NEW GLENN ROCKET FOR LAUNCH SERVICES CATALOG

Today, NASA awarded Blue Origin a NASA Launch Services II (NLS II) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to launch planetary, Earth observation, exploration, and scientific satellites for the agency aboard New Glenn, Blue Origin’s orbital reusable launch vehicle. The contract allows Blue Origin to compete for missions through Launch Service Task Orders issued by NASA. Project managers at NASA Centers around the country can now design spacecraft to take advantage of New Glenn’s unique seven-meter fairing and heavy-lift performance for a broad range of missions. 
     
“We are proud to be in NASA’s launch services catalog and look forward to providing reliable launches for future NASA missions aboard New Glenn for years to come. The award builds on Blue Origin’s existing partnership with NASA and will advance science and exploration to benefit Earth,” said Jarrett Jones, senior vice president, New Glenn, Blue Origin.

New Glenn is a single-configuration, operationally reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle powered by seven BE-4 liquefied natural gas rocket engines. The vehicle’s seven-meter fairing provides more than double the usable volume of any existing launch vehicle. 

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #9 on: 02/09/2023 10:12 pm »
https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1623821864488280065

Quote
NASA has awarded Blue Origin "a task order" to provide launch service for the agency’s Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission.

ESCAPADE will launch on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket from SLC-36. Launch is targeted for late 2024.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #10 on: 02/09/2023 10:14 pm »
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-blue-origin-to-launch-mars-magnetosphere-study-mission

Quote
Feb 9, 2023
CONTRACT RELEASE C23-008

NASA Selects Blue Origin to Launch Mars’ Magnetosphere Study Mission

NASA has awarded Blue Origin, LLC of Kent, Washington a task order to provide launch service for the agency’s Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission as part of the agency's Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract.

ESCAPADE will launch on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket from Space Launch Complex-36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Launch is targeted for late 2024. Blue Origin is one of 13 companies NASA selected for VADR contracts in 2022. NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, manages the VADR contracts. As part of VADR, the fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts have a five-year ordering period with a maximum total value of $300 million across all contracts.

ESCAPADE will study Mars’ magnetosphere – the magnetized area of space around the planet – using two identical small spacecraft, which will provide simultaneous two-point observations. The spacecraft will help provide researchers a better understanding of how the magnetosphere interacts with the solar wind, and how energy and plasma enter and leave the magnetosphere. Each satellite will carry three instruments: a magnetometer for measuring magnetic field, an electrostatic analyzer to measure ions and electrons, and a Langmuir probe for measuring plasma density and solar extreme ultraviolet flux.

It will take ESCAPADE about 11 months to arrive at Mars after leaving Earth’s orbit, where both spacecraft will spend several months adjusting their orbits before they are in position to best capture data about the magnetosphere. Studying different magnetospheres gives scientists a better understanding of space weather, which can protect astronauts and satellites both as they orbit Earth and explore the solar system. ESCAPADE is part of the NASA Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration program.

Building on NASA's previous procurement efforts to foster development of new launch vehicles for NASA payloads, VADR provides FAA-licensed commercial launch services for payloads that can tolerate higher risk. By using a lower level of mission assurance, and commercial best practices for launching rockets, these highly flexible contracts help broaden access to space through lower launch costs.

-end-

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #11 on: 02/09/2023 10:23 pm »
https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1623822745816518657

Quote
We’re honored to have been selected by @NASA_LSP to launch the ESCAPADE science mission on #NewGlenn. With ESCAPADE, NASA will study Mars’ magnetosphere. Learn more:

https://www.blueorigin.com/news/nasa-awards-mars-science-mission-launch-to-blue-origin-new-glenn/

Quote
NEWS | FEB 9, 2023
NASA Awards Mars Science Mission Launch to Blue Origin’s New Glenn

Today, NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP) awarded Blue Origin’s New Glenn the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) contract. ESCAPADE is part of the NASA Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program; it is a dual spacecraft mission to study Mars’ magnetosphere.

ESCAPADE is a twin-spacecraft Class D mission that will study solar wind energy transfer through Mars’ unique hybrid magnetosphere. Providing launch service for ESCAPADE is a task order under NASA's Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. Blue Origin was on-ramped to the NASA VADR launch services Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract on January 26, 2022, with a five-year period of performance.

“ESCAPADE follows a long tradition of NASA Mars science and exploration missions, and we’re thrilled NASA’s Launch Services Program has selected New Glenn to launch the instruments that will study Mars’ magnetosphere,” said Jarrett Jones, senior vice president, New Glenn, Blue Origin.
« Last Edit: 02/09/2023 10:30 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline DrHeywoodFloyd

Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #12 on: 02/09/2023 11:00 pm »
https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1623822745816518657

Quote
We’re honored to have been selected by @NASA_LSP to launch the ESCAPADE science mission on #NewGlenn. With ESCAPADE, NASA will study Mars’ magnetosphere. Learn more:

https://www.blueorigin.com/news/nasa-awards-mars-science-mission-launch-to-blue-origin-new-glenn/

Quote
NEWS | FEB 9, 2023
NASA Awards Mars Science Mission Launch to Blue Origin’s New Glenn

Today, NASA’s Launch Services Program (LSP) awarded Blue Origin’s New Glenn the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) contract. ESCAPADE is part of the NASA Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program; it is a dual spacecraft mission to study Mars’ magnetosphere.

ESCAPADE is a twin-spacecraft Class D mission that will study solar wind energy transfer through Mars’ unique hybrid magnetosphere. Providing launch service for ESCAPADE is a task order under NASA's Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. Blue Origin was on-ramped to the NASA VADR launch services Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract on January 26, 2022, with a five-year period of performance.

“ESCAPADE follows a long tradition of NASA Mars science and exploration missions, and we’re thrilled NASA’s Launch Services Program has selected New Glenn to launch the instruments that will study Mars’ magnetosphere,” said Jarrett Jones, senior vice president, New Glenn, Blue Origin.

According to NASA for this project...
https://blogs.nasa.gov/escapade/
"... target launch readiness date of October 2024."

Offline matthewkantar

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #13 on: 02/10/2023 01:39 am »
Does anybody know how much ESCAPADE will cost to launch?

Online trimeta

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #14 on: 02/10/2023 02:25 am »
Does anybody know how much ESCAPADE will cost to launch?

Eric Berger estimates that "the rocket will be 2x or 3x the cost the spacecraft itself," although that's likely speculation. I found this paper which mentions that the total budget "including launch vehicle and all reserves" is $78.5 million, although this other article says that missions funded under the SIMPLEx program (as ESCAPADE is) have a cost cap of $55 million. Either way, take 2/3–3/4 of those numbers (based on Eric's estimate) and that's Blue Origin's piece of the pie.

https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1623824852002959360

Offline matthewkantar

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #15 on: 02/10/2023 02:30 am »
Could this be a ride share? Seems like the payload is a featherweight.

Online vaporcobra

Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #16 on: 02/10/2023 02:47 am »
I'd bet a lot of money that Blue Origin wildly underpriced New Glenn to win this contract, so while I fully believe that the cost of the launch will be several times more than the spacecraft, I doubt NASA is paying more than a fraction of the true launch cost.

Offline su27k

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #17 on: 02/10/2023 02:49 am »
Does anybody know how much ESCAPADE will cost to launch?

Eric Berger estimates that "the rocket will be 2x or 3x the cost the spacecraft itself," although that's likely speculation. I found this paper which mentions that the total budget "including launch vehicle and all reserves" is $78.5 million, although this other article says that missions funded under the SIMPLEx program (as ESCAPADE is) have a cost cap of $55 million. Either way, take 2/3–3/4 of those numbers (based on Eric's estimate) and that's Blue Origin's piece of the pie.

I think you're mixing up cost and price, and it's not clear which one matthewkantar is asking for either.

Berger's 2x or 3x is the cost of New Glenn (to Blue Origin), which he guessed in the past to be around $200M, thus 2x to 3x of the spacecraft cost which is around $55M. Of course if they can recover and reuse the first stage then the cost of the launch wouldn't be so high.

The price Blue Origin bid to win this contract is likely significantly lower than this, my guess would be around $20M in order to beat the price of 2x 1-ton class LV launches (ESCAPADE is two spacecrafts, 90kg each, my guess is each one will need its own launch if you use 1-ton class LV).
« Last Edit: 02/10/2023 02:52 am by su27k »

Offline matthewkantar

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #18 on: 02/10/2023 03:15 am »
I mean to ask what NASA is paying BO for the launch. Cost was a poor choice of words.

Online trimeta

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Re: New Glenn Launch Manifest
« Reply #19 on: 02/10/2023 03:22 am »
I think you're mixing up cost and price, and it's not clear which one matthewkantar is asking for either.

Berger's 2x or 3x is the cost of New Glenn (to Blue Origin), which he guessed in the past to be around $200M, thus 2x to 3x of the spacecraft cost which is around $55M. Of course if they can recover and reuse the first stage then the cost of the launch wouldn't be so high.

The price Blue Origin bid to win this contract is likely significantly lower than this, my guess would be around $20M in order to beat the price of 2x 1-ton class LV launches (ESCAPADE is two spacecrafts, 90kg each, my guess is each one will need its own launch if you use 1-ton class LV).

Do you have a source for the spacecraft cost being $55 million, other than that being the price cap for SIMPLEx missions? Since it's not necessarily clear that NASA is fully going up to the price cap in this case, nor that $55 million is just for the spacecraft and doesn't include the launch. (And of course, the SIMPLEx price cap would be price, not cost, anyway.)

Although I do note that the discrepancy between the $55 million SIMPLEx limit and the $78.5 million budget I found in that paper would be explained by the launch costing NASA around $20 million.

Also, another datapoint is NASA paying Rocket Lab $10 million for CAPSTONE, which included one interplanetary Photon and one Electron launch; ESCAPADE will include two interplanetary Photons and zero Electron launches. Of course, that's price, not cost (and it's pretty clear that Rocket Lab lost money on that contract), but it does make it seem like $55 million for two interplanetary Photons is a little high.
« Last Edit: 02/10/2023 03:23 am by trimeta »

Tags: New Glenn escapade 
 

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