Blue Origin has announced ambitious production goals for its New Glenn rocket, seeking to increase output from 12 upper stages per year to 60 by the third quarter of 2028. The company. Founded by Jeff Bezos. Also plans to reach 100 upper stages per year by 2029, according to a job posting and report from Ars Technica.

Scaling Production for New Glenn

The job posting outlines a need for a senior manager to oversee tank fabrication for the Quattro variant, an upgraded upper stage for the New Glenn rocket. This version will use four BE-3U engines instead of two and will have nine engines on the first stage instead of seven; Blue Origin plans to operate both versions of the New Glenn rocket simultaneously, with the upgraded variant suited for lunar and deep space missions.

New Glenn is designed to be partially reusable, with the first stage booster intended to land on a droneship for reuse — the current upper stage is not reusable and is built for a single launch. The proposed production rate suggests Blue Origin aims to increase its launch cadence to 60 flights a year.

Delays and Technical Challenges

Development of New Glenn began over a decade ago but has been plagued by delays and technical issues; the rocket made its debut in January 2025 and has since flown three times. The company’s ambitious timeline for scaling production contrasts with the slow progress of the rocket’s initial development and testing phases.

According to Ars Technica, the job posting reflects the company’s broader strategy to increase production and meet the growing demand for launch services — this includes transitioning from a low-rate production model to a high-rate one, a shift that will require significant investment in manufacturing and workforce expansion.

Industry Context and Competition

Blue Origin’s plans come as the space launch industry continues to evolve, with competitors such as SpaceX also scaling up production; SpaceX, for example, has already demonstrated high-rate production with its Falcon 9 and Starship programs. Blue Origin’s push to increase New Glenn production may be an effort to remain competitive in the commercial and government launch markets.

The company’s ability to meet these production goals will depend on resolving ongoing technical challenges and maintaining a steady supply of skilled labor. The job posting for a senior manager overseeing tank fabrication is just one of many roles the company will need to fill to achieve its 2028 and 2029 targets.

Blue Origin has not provided a timeline for when the upgraded Quattro variant will enter service, but the job posting indicates that the company is already preparing for its production and integration into the overall launch strategy.