Blue Origin Adds GS3 Upper Stage and Northstar Engine to New Glenn Plans

Blue Origin announced development of GS3, a third stage for its New Glenn rocket, and Northstar, a new liquid-oxygen/liquid-methane first-stage engine. The company says GS3 will expand the rocket’s mission options, while Northstar will bring a different engine design to the first stage.

Key details

• Blue Origin says GS3 can deliver satellite constellations directly to geostationary orbit and carry heavy science and exploration payloads to the Moon and deep space.
• The planned stage will use one BE-7 engine, which Blue Origin developed for its Blue Moon spacecraft.
• A government customer has booked a GS3 mission to cislunar space, with launch targeted for 2028. Blue Origin has not identified the customer.
• Blue Origin says Northstar has 30% lower mass and 50% fewer parts than the BE-4. The company gives Northstar’s thrust as 715,000 pounds-force, compared with 640,000 for the BE-4.
• Blue Origin says Northstar reached development testing 11 months after the program received approval.

Blue Origin says Northstar produces 715,000 pounds-force of thrust, up from 640,000 for the BE-4.

Why it matters

GS3 would give New Glenn a stage designed for destinations beyond the orbits served by its standard configuration. Northstar’s liquid-oxygen/liquid-methane design and stated thrust figures mark a separate development effort for the rocket’s first stage.