A pristine rocket returns: Unveiling the secrets behind Blue Origin's spotless New Glenn
A rocket's tale of triumph and cleanliness
Last week, Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket made history with its first successful landing, and it did so with an unexpected twist - it looked brand new!
On November 13th, during the launch of NASA's ESCAPADE Mars probes from Florida, New Glenn's first stage gracefully returned to Earth, touching down in the Atlantic Ocean on Blue Origin's drone ship, Jacklyn. The booster's pristine appearance, with its gleaming white, gold, and blue livery, was a stark contrast to the soot-covered rockets we're used to seeing.
But here's where it gets interesting... and a bit controversial.
The Clean Secret: Propellants and Their Impact
The difference between a pristine New Glenn and a soot-covered SpaceX Falcon 9 lies in their propellants. SpaceX's Merlin engines, powering both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, run on liquid oxygen and RP-1, a kerosene-based fuel. Kerosene combustion leaves behind soot, resulting in the distinctive char marks on Falcon boosters.
However, New Glenn's BE-4 first-stage engines burn a different fuel combination - liquid oxygen and liquid methane, known as methalox. Methane combustion produces minimal soot, keeping the rocket clean during its descent. (New Glenn's upper stage, powered by BE-3U engines, uses liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.)
And this is the part most people miss: SpaceX has also developed a methalox engine, the Raptor, which powers their next-generation Starship megarocket. Starship is designed for Mars colonization, and methane as fuel makes sense, as it can be produced on Mars from atmospheric components, according to SpaceX founder Elon Musk.
The Future of Reusable Rockets
Blue Origin's New Glenn booster is now back at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Launch Complex 36 for inspection and refurbishment. The company plans to fly this booster multiple times, aiming for at least 25 launches per first stage. This level of reuse would be an incredible achievement, following SpaceX's lead, where multiple Falcon 9 boosters have flown dozens of times, with one setting a record of 31 launches.
So, is the soot on Falcon 9 boosters just a cosmetic issue, or does it indicate a deeper difference in rocket design and performance? What do you think? Feel free to share your thoughts and join the discussion in the comments below!
