Blue Ring

This article is about the Blue Origin spacecraft design. For other uses, see Bluering.
Blue Ring
DesignerBlue Origin
Country of originUnited States
Specifications
Payload capacity4,000 kg (8,819 lb)
PowerSolar
Design life5 years
Dimensions
Width44 m (144 ft)

Blue Ring is a spacecraft platform designed to support spacecraft operation, under development by Blue Origin. The platform is to be capable of refueling, transporting, and hosting satellites.[1] A prototype Blue Ring Pathfinder was launched on New Glenn's inaugural flight in January 2025.

Design and function

The Blue Ring platform accommodates satellites using a primary payload adapter, capable of supporting a 2 t (4,400 lb) satellite, as well as 12 ESPA and ESPA Grande adapters, capable of supporting 500 kg (1,100 lb)-class satellites. In total, the platform can carry up to 4.000 t (8,819 lb) of payload, depending on the target orbit. The platform is marketed toward a number of destination orbits, include geosynchronous orbits, Lagrange points, cislunar and lunar orbits, and potentially Interplanetary Space. Because of this capability, Blue Origin markets Blue Ring as a space tug as well as a satellite support platform. Other capabilities of Blue Ring include thermal management, communications relaying, and spacecraft refueling. Blue Ring itself is to be capable of refueling in orbit.[2][3]

The spacecraft is to use a combination of chemical and electric propulsion—chemical propulsion for major maneuvers and electric propulsion for station-keeping maneuvers or to reduce the propellant demands of orbit changes. Electric power is provided by 44 m (144 ft) solar array wings made up of roll-out solar array blankets.[2]

Blue Ring is designed to be launch-vehicle agnostic, allowing launch aboard carrier rockets with EELV-class 5 m (16 ft) fairings such as the Vulcan Centaur, Falcon 9, and Atlas V. The platform is also to be launched on Blue Origin's own New Glenn space launch vehicle.[2]

References

  1. ^ Kan, Michael (2023-10-16). "Blue Origin's New Spacecraft Can Build Projects in Space". PCMag. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  2. ^ a b c Klotz, Irene (2023-10-16). "Blue Origin Unveils Multi-Use Platform For Earth Orbit, Beyond". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  3. ^ "Blue Origin Unveils Multi-Mission, Multi-Orbit Space Mobility Platform". Blue Origin. 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2023-10-17.


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