If and when New Glenn proves it can reliably make treks to orbit and drop off spacecraft and satellites, the vehicle is likely to make a big splash in the launch market. The director of research at Quilty Space, which provides data and analysis about the space sector, highlighted the potential impact of New Glenn in the industry. The heavy-lift capabilities of New Glenn are seen as a significant factor in its potential success.
Over the years, vehicles of New Glenn's size and power have grown in importance. A decade ago, there was an anticipation that small, lightweight rockets would dominate the launch market due to their ability to rapidly launch satellites for megaconstellations in low-Earth orbit. However, the trend shifted as constellation operators opted for medium- or heavy-lift vehicles. This decision was driven by the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of launching more satellites in a single mission rather than one or two at a time. Additionally, the size of the satellites themselves increased, further favoring the use of heavier lift vehicles.
The term 'constellations' refers to swarms of satellites in orbit close to Earth that collaborate to achieve specific tasks. Notable examples include SpaceX's operational Starlink service and Amazon's Kuiper, which is still in development. These constellations aim to provide internet services to Earth through their satellite networks.
