Blue Origin announces New Glenn 9×4, a larger variant with nine first-stage and four upper-stage engines

Blue Origin/New Glenn

Blue Origin announced on November 20 the New Glenn 9×4, a super-heavy variant with nine first-stage BE-4 engines and four upper-stage BE-3U engines, plus an 8.7-meter fairing. The vehicle can lift 70+ tonnes to low Earth orbit and 20 tonnes to lunar transfer, complementing the original seven-engine design.

• Engine config: 9 BE-4 first-stage, 4 BE-3U second-stage (vs 7+2 on standard New Glenn).
• Payload capacity: 70+ tonnes to LEO, 20+ tonnes to lunar transfer.
• Fairing diameter 8.7 m; volume increased 70% to 820 cubic meters.
• Original New Glenn receives thrust upgrades and will operate alongside 9×4 variant.