Blue Origin completes first full dress rehearsal countdown and static fire test of New Glenn
Blue Origin today successfully completed the first full dress rehearsal countdown and static fire test of its New Glenn orbital rocket at its launchpad at Cape Canaveral.
The tanking test included a full run-through of the terminal count sequence, testing the hand-off authority to and from the flight computer, and collecting fluid validation data. The first stage (GS1) tanks were filled and pressed with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LOX), and the second stage (GS2) with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen–both to representative NG-1 set points.
The formal NG-1 Wet Dress Rehearsal demonstrated the final launch procedures leading into the hotfire engine run. All seven engines performed nominally, firing for 24 seconds, including at 100% thrust for 13 seconds. The test also demonstrated New Glenn’s autogenous pressurization system, which self-generates gases to pressurize GS1’s propellant tanks.
According to the company, the test achieved all its engineering goals, apparently making it ready for its targeted January 6, 2025 launch date. Beforehand however it will be rolled back into the assembly building so that its payload, Blue Origin’s Blue Ring orbital tug, can be stacked inside the fairings to fly a demo mission for the military.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Blue Origin today successfully completed the first full dress rehearsal countdown and static fire test of its New Glenn orbital rocket at its launchpad at Cape Canaveral.
The tanking test included a full run-through of the terminal count sequence, testing the hand-off authority to and from the flight computer, and collecting fluid validation data. The first stage (GS1) tanks were filled and pressed with liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LOX), and the second stage (GS2) with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen–both to representative NG-1 set points.
The formal NG-1 Wet Dress Rehearsal demonstrated the final launch procedures leading into the hotfire engine run. All seven engines performed nominally, firing for 24 seconds, including at 100% thrust for 13 seconds. The test also demonstrated New Glenn’s autogenous pressurization system, which self-generates gases to pressurize GS1’s propellant tanks.
According to the company, the test achieved all its engineering goals, apparently making it ready for its targeted January 6, 2025 launch date. Beforehand however it will be rolled back into the assembly building so that its payload, Blue Origin’s Blue Ring orbital tug, can be stacked inside the fairings to fly a demo mission for the military.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
I hope they have good camera feeds especially on the Landing Platform Vessel #1 for the first stage return of New Glenn.
Jan 6th is the
Feast of the Epiphany.
Here’s hoping for a successful flight. Though I have my doubts based mainly on the lack of track record for several simultaneous firsts. If wrong, I’ll take my crow roasted with a side of bbq sauce.
They apparently have been working on this WDR for several weeks ago, and have had to delay due to everything from inability to get consumables delivered in the quantities they needed to unspecified technical problems with both the rocket and the launch complex. They’ve worked through the issues and had a good test today, and I wish them luck, but the odds of them getting even a nearly perfect flight when they’re still having show stopper issues this close to launch are rather low.
For SpaceX, even a partially successful flight is a mission success, because that’s how they operate and that’s the expectations they set. BO on the other hand really needs to get to orbit on the first try, both because that’s the culture they represent, and also their launch manifest is starting to look really tight already.
The NSF guys on their stream identified what they thought appeared to be as many as 4 failed attempts at a static fire. Hard to be sure, but I think there’s a general sense based on what was happening on the pad that they had somewhat of a struggle to execute this fire.
But they finally did, and it’s great to see.
Doesn’t seem like they will make the 2024 target after all; Berger’s Law* is vindicated yet again. But if they can launch in the next few weeks, I think they have to be happy. Assuming it is a successful launch, of course. Executing the first stage landing would be a bonus (and probably an unlikely one).
P.S. There was a nice little exchange between Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk on X last night:
Jeff Bezos: Next stop launch
Elon Musk: Godspeed!
Jeff Bezos: [Prayer emoji]
https://x.com/JeffBezos/status/1872835817523270078
_____
* Coined by Eric Berger: “If rocket is predicted to make its debut in Q4 of a calendar year, and that quarter is six or more months away, the launch will be delayed.”
I’m glad to see that the Musk-Bezos relationship seems to be more cordial than after SpaceX first landed a Falcon 9 first stage! Bezos tweeted to Musk “Welcome to the club”, which many (including me) thought was pretty cheeky, considering that the Falcon 9 is an orbital class booster, while New Shepard was suborbital.
Of course, New Shepard is still the only vehicle BO has ever launched, a situation that will hopefully soon change!
I wish BO luck making orbit but give it a 50/50 chance with the 2nd stage using new engines. Furthermore, I predict a 10% chance of landing the booster on the barge on the first try. If they make it that far, it will probably be a soft or hard sea landing.
I watched the static fire multiple times and was amazed that they ran the engines up to 100% given the lack of a bright exhaust plume that is the norm with watching numerous SpX static fires. It looked to me more like a spin prime test visually because even a F9 static fire seems more visually “energetic” than the 45 seconds New Glenn static fire. That said, I hope they are successful and look forward to their first launch.
I do hope Elon and Jeff work together