Blue Ring

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 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 satellite, as well as 12 ESPA and ESPA Grande adapters, capable of supporting 1100 lb-class satellites. In total, the platform can carry up to 8819 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 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 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]