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r/BlueWire

▲ 28 r/BlueWire

Camera views from Blue Origin mission control

This was a preview segment during a commercial break, so it was probably filmed yesterday.

Barge refurbishment appears to be progressing - no longer looks scorched.

u/Royal_Platform_6754 — 1 day ago
▲ 46 r/BlueWire

New Glenn hardware spotted this morning in Blue Origin rocket factory high bay

I do not know exactly what is what, but I will make my best guesses. If you have a better guess - or insider knowledge - feel free to comment.

  • Photo 1
    • Left: GS2-9+ tank, GS2-8 in final assembly (closer), GS2-7 in test (farther).
    • Center: GS1-4 forward module with fins installed, and looking pretty close to being ready to go to LC-36.
    • Right: GS1-4 aft module with scaffolding around it. It does not appear the legs are installed yet.
  • Photo 2:
    • Left: GS1-4 forward module and GS1-4 aft module.
    • Middle: GS2-9+, with GS2-12 finishing tank welding.
    • Top Left: GS1-5 tank in construction.
    • Right: An area enclosed in a tent. Any guesses?
  • Photo 3:
    • Top Left: GS2-9+
    • Top Right: GS2-8 in final assembly.
u/Royal_Platform_6754 — 1 day ago
▲ 22 r/BlueWire

Blue Origin on X: What could ONE Blue Ring unlock? Our Chief Scientist, Steve Squyres, weighed in: Deploy multiple prospecting SmallSats to fly by asteroids and assess their resource potential.

Link: https://x.com/blueorigin/status/2056784102339088458

> What could ONE Blue Ring unlock?

> Our Chief Scientist, Steve Squyres, weighed in: Deploy multiple prospecting SmallSats to fly by asteroids and assess their resource potential. Which ones are made of metal, including valuable platinum group metals? And which ones are rich in organics, and in water that can be used to make propellants?

> Just one mission. Multiple asteroids surveyed.

u/Royal_Platform_6754 — 3 days ago
▲ 13 r/BlueWire

SpaceX files additional comments in opposition of Blue Origin's Project Sunrise application

Yes, twice in one day. AI summary follows.

The filing is a formal objection by Space Exploration Technologies Corp. to Blue Origin, LLC’s FCC application for the “Project Sunrise” orbital data center constellation. SpaceX argues that Blue Origin’s proposed Ka-band TT&C (telemetry, tracking, and command) system contains technical inconsistencies, violates FCC interference-minimization rules, and could create harmful interference for existing satellite operators and users.

The core arguments are:

  • Contradictory descriptions of Ka-band use: SpaceX says Blue Origin’s application alternately claims Ka-band TT&C would only be used during contingency/emergency phases and also says it would be used during routine nominal operations. The filing argues these contradictions prevent meaningful technical review by the FCC and other operators.
  • Inconsistent technical parameters: The filing claims Blue Origin lists conflicting EIRP and power flux density values between its Technical Annex and Schedule S filings, making interference analysis unreliable.
  • Criticism of horn antenna design: SpaceX argues Blue Origin’s proposed low-gain horn antennas are spectrally inefficient because they produce wide beams, large coverage contours, higher sidelobes, and poorer spatial reuse than narrow-beam high-gain parabolic antennas. According to SpaceX, this increases the likelihood of interference with other LEO constellations operating in Ka-band.
  • Regulatory argument: SpaceX cites FCC rule 47 C.F.R. § 25.202(g), which requires TT&C systems to minimize interference into other satellite networks, and argues Blue Origin’s design does not satisfy that requirement.
  • Suggested alternatives: SpaceX says Blue Origin could reduce interference risk by:
    • using high-gain parabolic antennas instead of low-gain horn antennas, and/or
    • relying exclusively on optical communications except during loss-of-link contingencies. SpaceX points to its own Starlink operations as evidence that directional Ka-band TT&C can work effectively without interference issues.
  • Requested FCC action: SpaceX does not explicitly ask for outright denial of the entire constellation, but it asks the FCC not to approve the TT&C request “in its current form” until Blue Origin clarifies and corrects the application and demonstrates compliance with interference rules.
u/Royal_Platform_6754 — 3 days ago
▲ 41 r/BlueWire

When will Blue Origin publicly unveil the Block 2 BE-4?

The engines on the Flight 3 booster look visually different from the earlier BE-4s, and Blue employees have hinted that Block 2 development is basically done (from LinkedIn, we know work on it started no later than July 2023, so that’s close to 3 years of development already). Finally, the 9X4 webpage also explicitly says it'll use Block 2 BE-4s.

Credit: Max Evans

u/Ill_Investigator_886 — 5 days ago
▲ 0 r/BlueWire+1 crossposts

EA Starship HLS takedown, or why HLS design makes no sense

https://youtu.be/T-jf6tTKt3Y?si=Nbf-xsoCFTp1IouT

Of course he is very careful in his observations but the short version of this video is that no version of Starship HLS is conducive to reusability. Subsequent landings trying to reuse the lander require more Starship flights than the original flight. Blue Moon mk2 mission architecture looking very good.

u/Disastrous_Run_5968 — 5 days ago
▲ 23 r/BlueWire

NASA releases final RFP for Mars Telecommunications Network

Direct link to the RFP is here. Blue Origin will be bidding an orbiter based on Blue Ring.

See also the paywalled SpaceNews article here. Excerpt below:

>NASA issued the final RFP for the Mars Telecommunications Network (MTN) on May 14, seeking proposals by June 15. NASA said it intends to have the selected company under contract by Oct. 1.

>MTN is designed to provide communications capabilities for other missions at Mars as existing orbiters, which serve as data relays in addition to their primary science missions, age. MTN was funded by last year’s budget reconciliation act, which provided NASA with $700 million for a Mars telecommunications orbiter that would be ready by the end of 2028.

>NASA, in the procurement filing for the final RFP, stated that the agency will run “a full and open competition” but added it includes “eligibility requirements” linked to the budget reconciliation act. The cover letter stated that companies must demonstrate they performed commercial Mars sample return studies and proposed a Mars telecom orbiter as part of their concepts.

>Eight companies participated in those commercial Mars sample return studies: Blue Origin, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Rocket Lab, SpaceX, Quantum Space and Whittinghill Aerospace. NASA has not disclosed which of those companies included telecom orbiters as part of their studies.

nasa.gov
u/Royal_Platform_6754 — 5 days ago
▲ 26 r/BlueWire

Vertical Refurbishment Facility (VRF) progress at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Foundation has been started, and the outline of the structure is now visible.

This will be nearly as tall as SpaceX's Gigabay (350 ft vs 380 ft), although smaller in footprint (80k sf vs 160k sf).

It should come online early next year.

u/Royal_Platform_6754 — 6 days ago
▲ 55 r/BlueWire+1 crossposts

NASA Outlines Preliminary Artemis III Mission Plans

Not much new information, but confirms a few things:

>The mission is planned to carry out a series of objectives designed to demonstrate critical systems needed for a future lunar landing. During the Artemis III mission, the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket will launch the Orion spacecraft from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida with four crew members. Instead of using the interim cryogenic propulsion stage as the upper stage of the rocket, NASA will use a “spacer,” a representation of the mass and overall dimensions of an upper stage but without propulsive capabilities. The spacer will maintain the same overall dimensions and interface connection points as the upper stage between the Orion stage adapter and launch vehicle stage adapter.

>After the rocket delivers Orion to orbit, the spacecraft’s European-built service module will provide propulsion to circularize Orion’s orbit around the planet in low Earth orbit. This orbit increases overall mission success by allowing more launch opportunities for each element as compared to a lunar mission — SLS carrying Orion and its crew, SpaceX’s Starship human landing system pathfinder, and Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 human landing system pathfinder. 

>Informed by Blue Origin and SpaceX capabilities, NASA also is defining the concept of operations for the mission. While some decisions are yet to be determined, astronauts could potentially enter at least one lander test article.

nasa.gov
u/Royal_Platform_6754 — 9 days ago
▲ 21 r/BlueWire

Dave Limp on X: Great to see these industry leaders excited about and pushing forward on space-based connectivity. This will expand coverage to so many, globally. Excited to support this effort.

Dave Limp weighs in on the recent news of major mobile network operators attempting to work together on direct-to-device (D2D) capabilities, in response to increasing competitive pressure from Starlink.

Link: https://x.com/davill/status/2055295007532470512

Article: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-05-14/mobile-carriers-join-forces-to-boost-coverage-in-dead-zones

u/Royal_Platform_6754 — 7 days ago