Jeff Bezos unveils massive reusable rocket ( and ejection test today)

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Named after the first US astronaut to orbit Earth, the 'New Glenn' launcher is larger than SpaceX's future Heavy rocket, The spacecraft come in two stages and will bring Blue Origin one-step closer to its goal of 'millions of people living and working in space'.

Blue Origin's announcement comes at a crucial time for the commercial space industry, The Washington Post reports.


Both stages are 23-feet in diameter, but the 'New Glenn 3-stage' is 313 feet tall, whereas 'New Glenn 2-stage measures 270-feet.

And each stage lifts off with 3.85 million pounds of thrust from seven BE-4 engines.
A single vacuum-optimized BE-3 engine, burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, will power New Glenn's third stage, according to Bezos.

However,the booster and the second stage are identical in both variants.


'The three-stage variant—with its high specific impulse hydrogen upper stage—is capable of flying demanding beyond-LEO missions.'

Just like Blue Origin's smaller BE-3 engine and New Shepard Propulsion module, both of the new rockets and their engines are reusable.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Like most spacecraft, Blue Origin's rocket has an escape system that can quickly propel the crew capsule to safety if a problem is detected.

But the design of New Shepard's escape capsule is unlike any seen before.

Now it has been revealed the escape system will be put to the test next week, in the rocket's 'toughest test yet'.

Blue Origin and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos revealed the dangerous launch will take place on the 4th October at 10:50AM ET (15:40 BST).

The company is going to intentionally trigger an escape in flight at the most stressful point of the flight.

This is when the pressure is at a maximum, and will happen about 45 seconds into the test.


blog post,

'The New Shepard escape motor pushes rather than pulls and is mounted underneath the capsule rather than on a tower,' Mr Bezos said.

'There is no jettison operation.

'On a nominal mission, the escape motor is not expended and can be flown again and again.'

After the pressure is at its maximum and the capsule is ejected, it will then use parachutes to lower itself safely to the ground

'We’ve already tested our pusher escape system, including many ground tests and a successful pad escape test, but this upcoming flight will be our toughest test yet.'

Capsule in-flight escape testing was last done during the Apollo program



How it used to be done

 

[slozomby]

<insert dirty joke about thread title>

 

[Nosada]

The entire reason for jettisoning the escape motor was that it added unnecessary weight for the return. I'm guessing newer, lighter materials fixed that problem. Still, I would not feel safer in a return vehicle knowing there were a couple hundred pounds of highly explosive rocket-fuel right by my ear while I make reentry at mach 37 and the air around me heats up to several hundreds degrees. Good thing I just didn't have the grades, or the physical endurance. Plus I throw up a lot, and nobody likes spending a week with me.

Spoiler: Full quote

I never told anybody this, but a thousand years ago I used to look up at the moon and dream about being an astronaut. I just didn't have the grades, or the physical endurance. Plus I threw up a lot, and nobody liked spending a week with me. - Fry (Futurama)

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

Space Shuttle had ejection seats but they were removed when the craft became operational............big shame.


The Russian Buran (shuttle) programme had ejection seats

http://www.buran-energia.com/bourane-buran/bourane-secu-sieges.php

 

[Ferrum Master]

I feel the more hype than technological advancement pursue in these.

Does this have plans to have the second stage to be also reusable? (collect them in one place there and stack them up for a big arse spaceship lol)

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

I feel the more hype than technological advancement pursue in these.

Does this have plans to have the second stage to be also reusable? (collect them in one place there and stack them up for a big arse spaceship lol)

Just like Blue Origin's smaller BE-3 engine and New Shepard Propulsion module, both of the new rockets and their engines are reusable

 

[Ferrum Master]

Naah... it is mixed bag... wiki says only the first stage is reusable. I just wonder how they solved the fuel and thermal protection problems for the second one... as Elon intended to make the second one reusable too.

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

The test yesterday was rescheduled for today at 15:45 BST (10:45 ET)

link to the live stream
https://www.blueorigin.com/


good vid

 

[Ferrum Master]

Cool. Need to put a reminder.

Maybe put on some bets

Will it catch fire?

Aliens?

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

BUMPAROONIE


https://www.blueorigin.com/#youtubebqUIX3Z4r3k

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

first pic on the www

truly an amazing spacecraft

 

[Ferrum Master]

Looks more solid than Space X. The landing for the fist stage was really solid... a bit fire in the end, but still good.

One question thou... landing at 15mph with that can... is it really that safe?

 

[CAPSLOCKSTUCK]

The commentator said the impact of the capsule was supposed to be 3 mph....though i didnt see any retro rockets fire as they are supposed to just before impact.

It will be interesting to see some pics of the capsule and more info in due course.


skip to 58.00 for the flight

 

[Ferrum Master]

There is a one more previous video of the same pod landing at the same speed.

So I assumed it is normal lol.