Exploring Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket

Aug 23, 2024

Blue Origin's New Glenn Tour with Tim Dodd and Jeff Bezos

Introduction

  • Tim Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut, at Blue Origin's factory in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
  • Touring New Glenn, one of the largest rockets.
  • Overview of what will be seen: landing legs, main tanks, engines, fairings, etc.
  • Jeff Bezos as the tour guide.

Meeting Jeff Bezos

  • Tim introduces himself and meets Jeff.
  • Discussion about the first rocket landed by Blue Origin and its significance.
  • The scale of New Glenn compared to previous rockets.

Rocket Design and Features

  • Rocket's Unique Features:
    • New Glenn has to fly in two directions (up and down).
    • Aerodynamic stability is crucial for both ascent and descent.
    • Ring fins and pop-up fins for stabilization.
    • Drag brakes to enhance landing performance.

Inertial Navigation and Landing Mechanics

  • High Altitude Wind Measurements:
    • Using inertial navigation to track high altitude winds.
    • Adjustments made for landing accuracy.
    • Final corrections aided by fins during descent.

Historical Insights

  • Discussion about the progress in rocketry since the 1960s.
  • Key advancements in manufacturing, sensors, and computational technologies.
  • Reusability as a solution for reducing spaceflight costs.

Inside the Factory

  • Tank Production:

    • Friction stir welding of LOx and LNG tanks.
    • Importance of orthogrid and isogrid designs for tank construction.
    • Emphasis on high-performance reusable tanks and aesthetics in aerospace design.
  • Components of the Rocket:

    • Explanation of components like downcomers and barrel sections.
    • Details about vertical welding and quality inspections.

Hydrogen Tank Tour

  • Entering a clean room for the hydrogen tank.
  • Installation of helium bottles inside the tank.
  • Overview of dimensions and comparisons with historical tanks.

Second Stage and Engines

  • New Glenn's Second Stage:

    • Description of the flight article for Escapade.
    • Design features to ensure rapid turnaround (16 days between launches).
    • Overview of thermal insulation and landing gear systems.
  • Engine Features:

    • BE4 engines mounted on the second stage; focus on reusability and performance.
    • Specific impulse considerations for engines using hydrogen vs. kerosene.
    • Oxidizer-rich stage combustion cycle and its implications for performance.

Manufacturing and Materials

  • Composites Production:

    • Fairings and payload adapters made of carbon fiber.
    • Use of CNC machines for precision and efficiency.
    • Cure process for composite materials.
  • Future Developments:

    • Discussion on developing a reusable second stage and its material considerations.
    • The ongoing evolution of manufacturing techniques to improve affordability and performance.

Conclusion

  • Tim expresses gratitude to the Blue Origin team and Jeff Bezos for the tour.
  • Encourages viewers to subscribe for part two of the tour, focusing on the launch pad.
  • Thanks supporters on Patreon and mentions new merchandise related to the Apollo era.