Fresh off a fully successful second flight of its latest mega rocket, Jeff Bezos’ space company, Blue Origin, has unveiled plans for an even larger version of its launch system. The upgraded New Glenn will surpass the historic Saturn V in height, putting it on par with SpaceX’s Starship.

Figure 1. Blue Origin’s Next-Gen New Glenn Rocket Outgrows Saturn V.

This super-heavy New Glenn will carry nine engines on its booster stage and four on the upper stage—up from seven and two, respectively, on the current version. Blue Origin will continue flying the existing model alongside the new variant, now referred to as New Glenn 7×2 and New Glenn 9×4. Figure 1 shows Blue Origin’s Next-Gen New Glenn Rocket Outgrows Saturn V.

The extra engines will boost the rocket’s overall thrust, enabling it to lift more than 70 metric tons into low-Earth orbit—just shy of Starship’s theoretical 100-ton capacity. SpaceX is also developing future Starship variants that could double that figure.

The new design will include a significantly larger fairing to accommodate bigger payloads, opening the door for missions involving mega-constellations, lunar and deep-space exploration, and national security projects such as Golden Dome.

Blue Origin, currently vying with SpaceX for NASA lunar missions, seems to be hinting at this capability in the rendering of the New Glenn 9×4 released Thursday. The illustration shows the super-heavy rocket ascending from a ground perspective, with the moon appearing unusually large above it.

Meanwhile, the 7×2 version has also been upgraded: its thrust has increased, the fairings are now reusable, and other enhancements aim to shorten turnaround times between launches, according to Blue Origin.

Blue Origin has not announced a date for its next launch, though it is currently tentatively scheduled for early 2026. CEO Dave Limp indicated that the company may soon attempt to send and land its uncrewed Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander on the moon.

Engine Upgrades

The new New Glenn 9×4 will feature nine engines on the booster stage and four on the upper stage, compared to seven and two on the current New Glenn 7×2, boosting its thrust and lifting capacity.

Payload & Capabilities

With its increased power and a larger payload fairing, the rocket can carry over 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, supporting mega-constellations, lunar missions, deep-space exploration, and national security projects.

Competing with SpaceX

The launch system positions Blue Origin as a contender for NASA lunar missions and other ambitious projects, highlighting its potential to compete with SpaceX’s Starship for heavy-lift and deep-space missions.

While no launch date has been set, early 2026 is a tentative target, with Blue Origin also planning potential missions for its uncrewed Blue Moon Mark 1 lunar lander to the moon.

Source: TC

Cite this article:

Priyadharshini S (2025), Blue Origin Unveils Super-Heavy New Glenn Rocket Taller Than Saturn V, AnaTechMaz, pp.615