Currently listed as launching no earlier than 1 a.m. Monday per the Space Coast Office of Tourism, Blue Origin’s brand new orbital rocket promises to put on quite a performance when it launches. But just how does this new heavy lifter measure up?
Blue Origin’s massive New Glenn rocket comes in at a towering 320 feet tall — which is equivalent to a 32-story skyscraper. Still, it’s overshadowed by SpaceX’s Starship, which current launches from Texas and may launch from Kennedy Space Center in the coming years. Starship looms over all rockets throughout history at a whooping 395 feet tall.
A history fact: if still utilized, NASA’s Saturn V moon rocket which launched the Apollo missions would be slightly shorter than Starship. Saturn V stood at 363 feet tall. Meanwhile, NASA’s upcoming Space Launch System (SLS), which will launch astronauts to the moon no earlier than 2026, reaches just above New Glenn at 322 feet tall.
If you’re remembering back to NASA’s legacy Space Shuttle, which launched from 1981 to 2011, that was a smaller rocket. It’s dwarfed by these newcomers. According to NASA, it stood at only 184 feet when stacked on the launch pad. That’s still shorter than a Falcon 9 rocket — and a Space Shuttle orbiter by itself measures only 122 feet long.
But our familiar SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket — which launches Starlink and other payload satellites frequently from Florida — is also small in comparison to these heavy lifting rockets. SpaceX’s two-stage orbital rocket comes in at just 229 feet, which is almost a 10-story building less than New Glenn.
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And just like SpaceX’s Falcon 9, Blue Origin is going to try to land the massive New Glenn first stage on a recovery ship, known as Jacklyn, waiting in the Atlantic Ocean. The day a flown New Glenn first stage arrives in Port Canaveral will be an interesting day in spaceflight history. The Space Coast only got a taste of this possible future when Blue Origin tested a model first stage at Port Canaveral back in August − the New Glenn mockup booster standing tall next to a SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage.
While we do not know a measurement for New Glenn’s first stage, the Falcon 9 first stage stands approximately 130 feet tall.
Here is a look at how New Glenn stands up to other familiar Florida rockets.
Blue Origin New Glenn stats
On Nov. 21, Blue Origin officials tweeted this nighttime photo of the first New Glenn rocket standing vertical at Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
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Blue Origin’s New Glenn will be used to carry payload to orbit and beyond. It will be utilized for Department of Defense missions, NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars, and to launch Amazon’s Kuiper internet satellites. Not much is currently known about this new rocket which could make its debut as early as Monday morning.
SpaceX Starship
SpaceX Starship stands stacked and ready for its fifth flight test from Boca Chica, Texas. Soon, this could be a sight at Kennedy Space Center’s Pad 39A. Photo from SpaceX.
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Two stage (Super Heavy Booster and Starship)
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When operational, Starship will carry payload and passengers to orbit and beyond. Starship is also contracted by NASA to ferry astronauts down to the lunar surface from the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis III mission, which is currently set for no earlier than 2027.
NASA Saturn V
The Apollo 11 Saturn V lifts off with astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. at 9:32 a.m. EDT July 16, 1969, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
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The massive Saturn V rocket launched Apollo spacecrafts carrying crews of three astronauts to the moon during late 1960s and early 1970s. It also launched America’s first space station − Skylab − in 1973.
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NASA Space Launch System (SLS)
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Two stage rocket with two solid rocket boosters
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NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) will launch Orion spacecraft and its astronaut crews of four to the moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program. Artemis II is currently scheduled to carry astronauts around the moon as soon as 2026. However, many speculate the future of this program may look different under the incoming administration.
SpaceX Falcon 9
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center, FL, Thursday, December 5, 2024. The rocket is carrying the Sirius SXM-9 telecommunications satellite. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
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Falcon 9 is Florida’s most commonly seen rocket. This rocket carries satellites and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft to orbit.
SpaceX Falcon Heavy
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifts off from Kennedy Space Center, FL Monday, October 14, 2024 carrying the Europa Clipper spacecraft for NASA. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TO2AY via USA TODAY NETWORK
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Two stage core rocket with two additional side first stage boosters
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Falcon Heavy is SpaceX’s current heavy lifter. Basically two additional first stage boosters added to a Falcon 9, this vehicle is used for heavy orbiting satellites and payload headed for other planets.
ULA Vulcan
A United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket rolled out to Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Monday, September 30, 2024 ahead of its second certification flight (Cert-2) in October. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
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Two stage with small solid rocket boosters
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ULA’s Vulcan has seen two certification flights to date. It will be utilized for carrying payloads to orbit, especially National Security missions.
ULA Atlas V
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Sunday morning, September 10, 2023 carrying the SILENTBARKER/NROL-107 mission for the US Space Force and the National Reconnaissance Office. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK
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Two stage with small solid rocket boosters
NASA Space Shuttle
July 15, 2009 – Photo by Craig Bailey/Florida Today–Space shuttle Endeavour lifts off from Kennedy Space Center Wednesday evening.
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Spacecraft launched by external tank and two solid rocket boosters
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From 1981 until 2011, NASA’s Space Shuttle launched crews and payload to orbit. Launching like a rocket and landing like a plane, there has not been another spacecraft like the space shuttle. Its unique payload bay allowed it to carry both astronauts and satellites on the same flight. Its most notable payload was NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, which still orbits Earth to this day.
Brooke Edwards is a Space Reporter for Florida Today. Contact her at bedwards@floridatoday.com or on X: @brookeofstars.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: How Blue Origin’s New Glenn compares to SpaceX’s Starship, Saturn V