Blue Origin Ramps Up New Glenn Manufacturing, Unveils Orbital Data Center Ambitions

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Blue Origin is showcasing the production cadence of its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket at its Space Coast facilities, with CEO Dave Limp revealing a rocket factory in full swing. The company has multiple second stages in various phases of assembly, as it attempts to accelerate its launch cadence following two successful flights in 2025, and its opening launch of 2026 in the coming weeks. Blue Origin is also adding an ambitious new endeavor to its portfolio: Project Sunrise, a megaconstellation of orbital data centers.

Why it matters

New Glenn requires a substantial ramp-up in launch cadence to achieve its future goals, including the orbital data center constellation. The manufacturing scale-up is vital for Blue Origin's broader portfolio, which already encompasses a low-Earth-orbit space station, lunar landers, and a satellite internet constellation.

The details

Blue Origin has at least two New Glenn second stages in final integration, complete with insulation blankets. There are also complete tank sections for at least four more stages, and bulkheads and barrel sections indicating yet another unit in the works. Overall, up to seven second stages are visible across different production stages. First-stage hardware is also present on the factory floor, including a booster aft module and a forward module undergoing outfitting. This activity follows the recent static fire test of the fifth New Glenn second stage, signaling that Blue Origin is building well ahead of immediate needs. The company is on the verge of its third New Glenn mission (NG-3), expected from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in the coming weeks, marking the program's first booster reuse.

• Blue Origin is on the verge of its third New Glenn mission (NG-3), expected from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in the coming weeks.
• The flight will mark the program's first booster reuse: the first stage from Flight 2 — named 'Never Tell Me The Odds,' which successfully landed on the drone ship Jacklyn after delivering NASA's ESCAPADE Mars probes in November 2025 — will fly again.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Blue Origin is on the verge of its third New Glenn mission (NG-3), expected from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in the coming weeks, pending a successful booster static fire test in the coming days.