Blue Origin unveils third stage and Northstar engine for New Glenn, aiming at lunar missions

Blue Origin unveiled the GS3 third stage and a new Northstar engine for New Glenn at the Up.Summit event at Kennedy Space Center on November 5, Spaceflight Now reports.

Northstar produces about 715,000 pounds (3,180 kilonewtons) of thrust, against 640,000 pounds (2,850 kilonewtons) for the current BE-4. It went from program approval to development testing in 11 months. GS3 uses the BE-7 engine, the same as the Blue Moon lunar landers, and a government cislunar mission is planned for 2028.

"The GS3 tank is expected to be the first composite LH2 tank ever flown in space," the company said.