Aerospace firm Blue Origin announced updates regarding its New Glenn launch vehicle, including a schedule change for its upcoming return-to-flight mission. Meanwhile, space startup Argo Space is advancing plans to test water-based satellite propulsion systems in orbit.
Blue Origin Adjusts New Glenn Timeline
Blue Origin revealed several developments on Thursday, introducing a new kick stage for its New Glenn rocket alongside a new rocket engine design. The company also pushed back the scheduled return-to-flight mission for New Glenn from December to January.
Rebuilding efforts remain underway at the company’s damaged launch facility in Cape Canaveral, Florida, following a major explosion nearly six months ago. Institutional clients, including NASA, Amazon, and the Space Force, continue to await New Glenn’s return to operational service.
Argo Space Advances Water-Powered Satellites
Startup Argo Space is building satellite systems powered by water, Ars Technica reported. Founded in late 2022 by three brothers who previously worked at SpaceX during the Falcon 9 program, the company aims to construct orbital infrastructure that reduces reliance on propellants launched from Earth. Argo Space designs its spacecraft to utilize water as a propellant, coolant, and radiation shield.
The propulsion technology functions by carrying a reservoir of liquid water on board. Once in space, the system uses solar energy to separate the water into hydrogen and oxygen gases, which are then combusted in a small engine to generate thrust. This design avoids the need to launch with pre-separated liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks.
Argo Space launched its initial test flight in July, but the spacecraft experienced a failure when one of its solar arrays failed to deploy, preventing the team from evaluating the propulsion system. The company has scheduled two follow-up demonstration missions for 2027 to test its water-fueled thrusters in space.
