The commercial space race is heating up, with private companies like Blue Origin and Arianespace pushing the boundaries of rocket technology and reusability in their quest to dramatically reduce the cost of access to space. Two of the most ambitious and anticipated new rockets under development are Blue Origin’s New Glenn and Arianespace’s Ariane 6.
New Glenn is a heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle being developed by Blue Origin, the space company founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos. It is named after NASA astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. New Glenn is designed to be partially reusable, with a first stage that can land on a ship at sea and be flown again, similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
Ariane 6 is a next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle being developed by Arianespace, the European launch provider, and the European Space Agency (ESA). It is the successor to the highly successful Ariane 5 rocket and is intended to provide Europe with an independent, cost-effective launch capability for both government and commercial missions.
Both New Glenn and Ariane 6 are slated to debut in 2024 after facing multi-year delays. As their maiden launches approach, let’s take a detailed look at how these two rockets stack up against each other in terms of design, capabilities, competitiveness, and progress.
Specifications Comparison
Specification
New Glenn
Ariane 6
Height
320 ft (98 m)
207 ft (63 m)
Diameter
23 ft (7 m)
17 ft (5.4 m)
Stages
2
2
LEO Payload (reusable)
45 t
N/A (expendable)
LEO Payload (expendable)
~61 t (estimated)
A64: 21.65 tA62: 10.35 t
GTO Payload
13 t
A64: 11.5 tA62: 5 t
First Stage Engines
7 x BE-4
2-4 x P120C solid boosters
Second Stage Engines
2 x BE-3U
1 x Vinci
Propellants
LNG/LOX, LH2/LOX
Solid, LH2/LOX
Thrust (liftoff)
17.1 MN
A64: 8.2 MNA62: 5.0 MN
Reusability
Booster only
None (expendable)
In its reusable configuration, New Glenn can deliver an impressive 45 metric tons to low Earth orbit (LEO). For missions to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), it can lift 13 metric tons. Ariane 6 comes in two variants – the A62 with two solid rocket boosters and the A64 with four boosters. The A64 can launch up to 11.5 metric tons to GTO, while the smaller A62 can lift 5 metric tons. However, Ariane 6 is fully expendable and not designed for reusability like New Glenn.
The first stages of the two rockets also differ significantly. New Glenn’s first stage is powered by seven BE-4 engines, which are fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid oxygen (LOX). These powerful engines generate 17.1 meganewtons (MN) of thrust at liftoff. The BE-4 is also notably being used by United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan rocket.
In contrast, Ariane 6’s first stage consists of a core powered by the Vulcain 2.1 liquid-fueled engine, along with either two or four P120C solid rocket boosters. The Vulcain 2.1, which burns liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, is an upgraded version of the Vulcain 2 engine used on Ariane 5. It provides 1,370 kN (310,000 lbf) of thrust. The P120C boosters, which burn a solid propellant mixture, provide additional thrust – 8.2 MN for the A64 variant with four boosters and 5.0 MN for the A62 with two boosters. While the Vulcain 2.1 liquid engine can be throttled and shut down as needed, the P120C solid rockets cannot be throttled or shut down once ignited.
For the second stage, New Glenn uses two BE-3U engines burning cryogenic liquid hydrogen (LH2) and LOX. The BE-3U is an optimized upper stage variant of the BE-3PM engine that powers Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital vehicle. Ariane 6 features a single Vinci engine on its upper stage, also fueled by LH2/LOX. The Vinci can be restarted multiple times to enable complex mission profiles and direct insertion of payloads into higher energy orbits.
Design and Capabilities
Beyond the raw specifications, New Glenn and Ariane 6 have some notable design features that set them apart. One of New Glenn’s standout characteristics is its large payload fairing, which measures 23 feet (7 meters) in diameter. This allows it to accommodate payloads with twice the volume of any currently operational launcher. The cavernous fairing provides ample room for large commercial satellites, space telescopes, and potentially even crewed spacecraft.
New Glenn’s first stage is designed to be reusable, with the ability to land vertically on a moving ship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean, similar to SpaceX’s autonomous spaceport droneships. Blue Origin is targeting a minimum of 25 flights for each New Glenn booster, which would significantly reduce launch costs. However, the upper stage is expendable and not recovered.
Ariane 6, on the other hand, is an entirely expendable rocket. While it lacks the reusability of New Glenn, it does offer some unique capabilities. The Vinci upper stage engine can be restarted up to four times, enabling Ariane 6 to deploy multiple payloads into different orbits on a single mission. This flexibility is appealing to satellite operators looking to rideshare and reduce costs.
Ariane 6 also has two payload fairing size options – a longer 20 meter variant for the A64 and a 14 meter fairing for the A62. Both fairings have a diameter of 5.4 meters. While not as voluminous as New Glenn’s fairing, they still provide ample space for most commercial satellites.
Progress and Readiness
As of May 2024, both New Glenn and Ariane 6 are in the final stages of development and testing, with first launches expected later this year. However, the two vehicles are at different points in their readiness.
Blue Origin has made steady progress on New Glenn after facing several years of delays. In February 2024, the company rolled out a fully integrated New Glenn vehicle, including a first stage simulator and payload fairing, to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral for the first time. This marked a major milestone as Blue Origin began a series of tanking tests and rehearsals in preparation for the maiden flight.
However, this pathfinder rocket did not include flight engines, as the BE-4 is still undergoing final testing and qualification at Blue Origin’s facilities in Texas and Alabama. The company has been gradually ramping up BE-4 production and aims to have the engines ready for New Glenn’s debut launch, which is currently targeted for no earlier than September 29, 2024. That mission is expected to carry NASA’s ESCAPADE Mars probe.
Meanwhile, Ariane 6 is in the midst of its first launch campaign at the European Spaceport in French Guiana. In early May, the core stage was raised vertical at the launch pad, and the solid rocket boosters were attached shortly after. This marks the beginning of final integration and checkout for the maiden flight, which is scheduled for a window between June 15 and July 31, 2024.
Ariane 6 has also faced its share of delays, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which disrupted the supply of Russian Soyuz rockets that Arianespace previously relied on. However, the European Space Agency and Arianespace have worked to overcome these challenges and keep Ariane 6 on track.
Prior to the launch campaigns, both rockets have undergone extensive testing of their structures, engines, and subsystems. New Glenn has conducted stage separation tests, fairing deployment tests, and hold-down engine firings. Ariane 6 has completed several static fire tests of its complete core stage and a successful test of the Vinci upper stage engine.
Competitiveness and Market Outlook
New Glenn and Ariane 6 are entering an increasingly competitive global launch market dominated by SpaceX’s partially reusable Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets. Both vehicles seek to offer a mix of performance, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness to attract commercial and government customers.
New Glenn’s heavy lift capability and reusable first stage give it a unique advantage in the market. With a payload capacity exceeding 40 metric tons to LEO and 13 metric tons to GTO, it can handle the largest commercial satellites as well as potentially support crewed spaceflight and deep space missions. The reusability of the first stage, combined with the high flight rate enabled by the large BE-4 engine production, could allow New Glenn to approach the low launch costs achieved by SpaceX.
However, New Glenn will still face stiff competition from SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy and the even larger fully reusable Starship vehicle currently in development. It remains to be seen how New Glenn’s pricing and cadence will compare to the more established and flight-proven SpaceX rockets.
Ariane 6, while not offering the same payload capacity or reusability as New Glenn, is positioned as a flexible and reliable option for commercial and institutional customers. Its ability to deploy multiple payloads to different orbits and offer dual-launch configurations makes it attractive for satellite constellations and rideshare missions.
Ariane 6 is also essential for ensuring European independent access to space and supporting ESA’s space exploration and science programs. It will launch ESA’s upcoming Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) and PLATO exoplanet observatory, among other missions.
However, Ariane 6 faces challenges in terms of cost competitiveness. Even with the more affordable Ariane 62 variant, it is still expected to be significantly more expensive per launch than SpaceX’s Falcon 9. Arianespace and ESA are working to reduce costs through production optimization, but reusability remains key to closing the gap.
Both New Glenn and Ariane 6 have secured a mix of commercial and government launch contracts, reflecting the market’s interest in their capabilities. New Glenn customers include Eutelsat, Sky Perfect JSAT, Telesat, and the U.S. Space Force. Ariane 6 has booked missions for OneWeb, Amazon’s Project Kuiper broadband constellation, and various European government payloads.
Ultimately, the success of New Glenn and Ariane 6 will depend on their ability to deliver reliable and cost-effective launch services while continuing to innovate and adapt to market demands. As they begin operations, their performance, pricing, and responsiveness to customers will be closely watched by the industry.
Summary
The debut of Blue Origin’s New Glenn and Arianespace’s Ariane 6 in 2024 marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the global launch industry. These two rockets, while different in design and approach, both push the boundaries of what’s possible in terms of payload capacity, flexibility, and cost.
New Glenn’s heavy lift capability, reusable first stage, and massive payload fairing make it a formidable contender in the market, with the potential to support a wide range of missions from commercial satellites to deep space exploration. If Blue Origin can achieve its targeted launch costs and cadence, New Glenn could emerge as a major player alongside SpaceX.
Ariane 6, while not boasting the same reusability or payload capacity, offers a flexible and reliable option for European and global customers. Its ability to deploy multiple payloads and support critical ESA missions ensures its importance in the European space ecosystem. However, its long-term competitiveness will hinge on Arianespace’s ability to reduce costs and potentially introduce reusability in the future.
As both rockets prepare for their maiden flights, the space industry eagerly awaits to see how they perform and shape the market. Their success could open up new opportunities for scientific discovery, technological advancement, and commercial growth in the final frontier.
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