Blue Origin reveals a super-heavy variant of its New Glenn rocket that is taller than a Saturn V

Blue Origin has unveiled a super-heavy variant of its New Glenn rocket, dubbed New Glenn 9×4, which will be taller than the historic Saturn V and comparable in size to SpaceX’s Starship. This upgraded version features nine engines on the booster stage and four on the upper stage, an increase from the current New Glenn 7×2’s seven and two engines, respectively. The enhanced thrust will enable the rocket to carry over 70 metric tons to low-Earth orbit, positioning it as a strong contender for large-scale missions such as mega-constellations, lunar and deep space exploration, and national security projects like Golden Dome. The new design also includes a significantly larger payload fairing to accommodate bigger cargo. Alongside the introduction of the New Glenn 9×4, Blue Origin has improved the existing 7×2 model by increasing its total thrust and adding reusable fairings to reduce turnaround time between launches. The company is actively competing with SpaceX for NASA lunar missions and