Blue Origin Unveils Super-Heavy New Glenn 9x4 Rocket

Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ space venture, is aiming higher than ever. The company has unveiled plans for a new, more powerful variant of its New Glenn rocket, promising a super-heavy launch vehicle capable of transforming satellite deployment and deep space exploration.

Dubbed the New Glenn 9x4, the rocket’s name reflects its new engine configuration: nine engines on the first stage and four on the second. This marks an increase of two engines per stage compared to the existing New Glenn 7x2, signaling a bold push toward heavier payloads and more ambitious missions.

The announcement follows the successful launch of New Glenn’s second mission last week, showcasing Blue Origin’s progress in building a reusable rocket designed to compete with SpaceX’s Falcon rockets and the under-development Starship. The 9x4 variant is expected to have a taller frame and a larger payload fairing, surpassing even the iconic 17-story Saturn V in height.

Blue Origin said both New Glenn versions—the original 7x2 and the upcoming 9x4—will operate simultaneously. This approach is aimed at offering customers flexible launch options for everything from mega-constellation satellite deployments to lunar missions, deep space exploration, and national security projects such as Golden Dome.

While the company did not provide a specific timeline for the 9x4’s first flight, it emphasized that iterative design improvements from the current New Glenn vehicle will allow rapid development. Analysts note that the move positions Blue Origin alongside other U.S. launch providers, including Rocket Lab, SpaceX, and United Launch Alliance, which are also scaling up capabilities to carry larger satellite payloads into orbit.

With this announcement, Blue Origin signals its intention to expand its footprint in the orbital launch market. The super-heavy New Glenn 9x4 underscores the company’s commitment to advancing reusable rocket technology while challenging the industry’s current benchmarks in payload capacity and launch flexibility.