Bezos vs Musk: Blue Origin’s New Glenn 9×4 Aims for Space Dominance

Blue Origin Bets Big in the Rocket Race

In a bold move to challenge SpaceX’s long-standing dominance, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin has unveiled plans for a beefed-up version of its New Glenn rocket. Dubbed the New Glenn 9×4, this larger, more powerful launcher promises to deliver unprecedented lift capacity and versatility for customers ranging from commercial satellite operators to national security missions.

While SpaceX has become synonymous with reusable rockets and rapid launch cadence, Bezos is betting on sheer power and flexibility to carve out his slice of the space industry.

What’s New About the New Glenn 9×4?

The name 9×4 refers to the rocket’s engine configuration: nine BE-4 engines on the first stage and four BE-3U engines on the second stage—up from seven and two on the original New Glenn. Thanks to planned engine upgrades, each BE-4 will gain an additional 387 kiloNewtons of thrust, and each BE-3U an extra 178 kN.

The result? A first stage total thrust of 25,621 kN, enough to loft a 70-tonne payload into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). To put that into perspective, this could allow Blue Origin to compete directly with SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy for heavy-lift missions and even open the door for ambitious lunar and deep-space projects.

More Room, More Possibilities

It’s not just about power. The New Glenn 9×4 sports an 8.7-metre-wide payload fairing, a significant upgrade that increases cargo volume by 70% to 820 cubic metres. For satellite operators and deep-space missions, this expanded capacity is a game-changer, allowing multiple satellites, larger spacecraft, or even components for lunar bases to be launched in a single mission.

Blue Origin emphasizes that the New Glenn family is being designed with flexibility in mind, supporting a range of missions: megaconstellations, lunar exploration, deep-space science, and critical national security operations like the so-called Golden Dome projects.

Chasing SpaceX

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has dominated headlines with rapid launches, reusable boosters, and ambitious Starship plans. Blue Origin, by contrast, has often been criticized for taking its time. But with the New Glenn 9×4, Bezos’ company is signaling that patience and engineering power could rival speed and hype.

For South Africans and space enthusiasts worldwide, this is an exciting development: the global space race is no longer just an American arms show, it’s a competition for technological prestige, commercial contracts, and lunar ambitions.

While Blue Origin has yet to confirm a first launch date for the New Glenn 9×4, the rocket’s design marks a clear statement: Bezos is in the game for the long haul. With SpaceX aiming for Mars and reusable Starships, and Blue Origin focusing on raw lift power and flexibility, the next decade could see some of the most significant breakthroughs in space access yet.

Source: IOL

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