The rocket was named after the legendary astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. New Glenn is a two-stage rocket with a height of 98 meters (323 feet), making it one of the tallest in its category. It has been designed to carry 45 tons to low-Earth orbit (LEO), which positions Blue Origin as a direct competitor to SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy.

And part of Blue Origin’s long-term vision of creating a future where millions live and work in space. With its significant payload capacity, New Glenn will cater to the growing demand for satellite launches, enabling advancements in communication, navigation, and Earth monitoring.

The mission, known as NG-1, aims to test the communications and control systems for Blue Origin’s Blue Ring, a multi-mission space mobility vehicle.