--- title: "New Animation Shows Off Blue Origin’s Redesigned Heavy Load Rocket" description: "Blue Origin showed off a new animation of its New Gleen orbital rocket system, including a booster landing that's reminiscent of SpaceX's Falcon 9." date: "2019-01-22" modified: "2019-01-22" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/animation-blue-origin-redesigned-new-glenn-rocket" categories: - "Blue Origin" - "Space" tags: - "blue origin" - "jeff bezos" - "new glenn" - "SpaceX" --- # New Animation Shows Off Blue Origin’s Redesigned Heavy Load Rocket ![Blue Origin showed off a new animation of its New Gleen orbital rocket system, including a booster landing that's reminiscent of SpaceX's Falcon 9.]() *\Image: Blue Origin\* ## Heavy Load In a new animation, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' space agency Blue Origin showed off a new design for its heavy load "New Glenn" rocket. The animation shows the two stage rocket take off from a launch pad before separating a bullet-shaped payload fairing in space as the booster re-enters the atmosphere and lands on a ship. https://youtu.be/532ay25-kmU Yes, that last part is similar to how SpaceX reuses its Falcon 9 boosters, down to the way legs (the Falcon 9 has four while the New Glenn will have six) splay out of the bottom of the booster to stabilize it during touchdown. While it's not exactly a new idea — even for Blue Origin — a previous New Glenn [animation from 2017]() showed a slightly different leg design that folded out of the sides of the booster, rather than swinging out. ## Glengarry Glen Ross In terms of specs, Blue Origin is promising that the New Glenn will be capable of delivering about 50 metric tons to low Earth orbit, while SpaceX's Heavy Falcon will eventually be capable of delivering just over 70 tons. The New Glenn will stand 83 feet taller than the Heavy Falcon at a massive 313 feet (95 m) tall. Blue Origin's smaller suborbital rocket, the "New Shepard," has also made progress over the last few years. Its [next test flight]() is slated for Jan. 23. Rather than sending a massive payload into orbit, New Shepard's capsule will carry scientists and their equipment for experiments into suborbital space. ## Catching Up We have yet to hear from Blue Origin about an exact launch date of its New Glenn orbital rocket, let alone crewed test flights. The company has said it's aiming for a [2021 test flight]() from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Blue Origin has some catching up to do. SpaceX's Heavy Falcon completed its first test flight [last February](), becoming the most powerful rocket in operation. **READ MORE:** [Blue Origin Video Shows Off Updated Design of Huge New Glenn Rocket]() \[*Space.com*\] ***More on Blue Origin: [Blue Origin’s New Shepard Rocket Aces Important Test]()*** ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()