Blue Origin has confirmed that at 9 p.m. ET, the rocket was being loaded with propellant for its upcoming mission. The fueling process, as per a mission timeline shared by Blue Origin, typically takes about three and a half hours to complete.
The process begins with the loading of liquid hydrogen onto the upper stage of New Glenn, which is the top part of the rocket attached to the cargo bay and houses two engines designed for operation in the vacuum of space. Approximately 30 minutes later, the company starts loading liquid oxygen into both the top and bottom sections of the rocket. Liquid oxygen, also known as LOX, serves as an oxidizer that enables the fuel to combust, resulting in the fiery blaze emitted by rocket engines.
Following the LOX loading, another 30 minutes elapse before the first-stage rocket booster of New Glenn, which comprises seven powerful engines providing the initial burst of power at liftoff, is loaded with liquified natural gas (LNG), a form of methane available commercially.
Once the propellant loading is complete, observers may notice the rocket appearing glazed in white and emitting steam. This visual effect is caused by the cryogenic propellants boiling as the super-chilled gases come into contact with the relatively warm air of Florida.
