New Glenn Expands Its Reach with GS3: Heavy-Lift Performance Direct to GEO and Beyond

Blue Origin has introduced a third stage for New Glenn, GS3, that enables a full range of high-energy missions, including direct injection to geostationary orbit (GEO) and Earth-escape trajectories. GS3 is already under contract for a cis-lunar mission with a government customer scheduled to launch in 2028.

Designed for long-duration missions to challenging orbital destinations, GS3 enhances New Glenn's capabilities. The third stage enables direct deployment of satellite constellations to GEO and supports heavy-lift science and exploration missions to the Moon and deep space. While GS3 is not required for Blue Origin's lunar lander architecture, it can support sustained operations around the Moon. By delivering significant payload mass directly to trans-lunar injection (TLI), GS3 enables faster transit times while preserving propellant for on-orbit operations.

Built on proven New Glenn hardware, GS3 expands performance without changing the customer payload experience. The stage can deliver up to 14 metric tons to GEO and 20 metric tons to TLI for the 9x4 vehicle, and up to 8 metric tons to GEO and 10 metric tons to TLI on the 7x2 vehicle. GS3 uses the same fixed payload adapters and payload fairing as the two-stage vehicle. Integrated within an interstage, it preserves the full fairing volume for customer payloads.

GS3 was designed to meet the requirements of national security and other high-energy missions that require precise orbital insertion. The stage expands mission flexibility with capabilities including direct insertion into medium Earth orbit (MEO) and GEO, multi-payload deployment, extended coast phases, and multiple precision burns. These capabilities are designed to support the rigorous mission assurance and payload integration requirements of government and commercial customers.

Powering GS3 is Blue Origin's BE-7 engine, which is optimized for the long-duration operation, multiple burns, and complex maneuvers required for high-energy missions. BE-7 operates at high specific impulse (ISP), achieving better than 460 of ISP in vacuum for GS3 mission profiles. GS3 also leverages New Glenn's proven in-house fluids systems, mechanical systems, and avionics, helping reduce technical risk while accelerating development.

At Blue Origin's dedicated test facility at Launch Site One in Texas, the team recently completed the first composite liquid hydrogen (LH2) tanking test. During the test, the tank was pressurized using flight fluid systems to 100% of Maximum Expected Operating Pressure (MEOP) for 2.5 hours, exceeding the duration required for any GS3 mission. The tank was also successfully pressurized to 150% of MEOP for 10 minutes. The GS3 tank is expected to be the first composite LH2 tank ever flown in space.