Company seeks to increase production rate to meet lunar ambitions
Blue Origin has posted a job opportunity for a senior manager to oversee tank fabrication for Quattro, the company’s nickname for a more powerful upper stage for New Glenn. The job posting reveals ambitious plans for the vehicle, which will feature four BE-3U engines instead of the two currently powering the booster.
The production targets outlined in the job description are staggering, with the company aiming to increase its launch rate from 12 per year to 60 by the third quarter of 2028. This would be followed by a production rate of 100 second stages annually by 2029, which would put significant pressure on the company’s manu…
While Blue Origin has faced challenges in meeting its launch targets in the past, the company’s founder Jeff Bezos continues to make major investments in infrastructure in Florida. The company is also exploring the possibility of reusing upper stages for New Glenn, which could potentially alleviate some of the press…
However, it remains to be seen whether Blue Origin will be able to meet its ambitious launch targets. The company has already faced setbacks with its most recent launch earlier this month, and increasing production rates significantly would require significant resources and investment.
What matters
- Quattro, a more powerful upper stage for New Glenn, could debut next year
- Production targets include ramping up from 12 launches per year to 60 by 2028 and 100 by 2029
- New Glenn’s launch rate would need to increase significantly to meet company goals
Why it matters
New Glenn’s launch rate would need to increase significantly to meet company goals
This GenAI News article was prepared in original wording using reporting and materials published by Ars Technica. Source reference: https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/04/blue-origin-certainly-has-ambitious-launch-targets-for-new-glenn/.
Drafted by the GenAI News review pipeline.