Blue Ring (orbital platform for space logistics)

2023: Product Announcement

On October 16, 2023, Blue Origin, established by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, unveiled a multi-purpose space logistics platform called Blue Ring. This system will be used, among other things, for the delivery of goods to various orbits.

The creation and deployment of Blue Ring is the responsibility of a new division of In-Space Systems as part of Blue Origin. The platform provides comprehensive services covering hosting, transportation and fueling of satellites, as well as data relay. In addition, it is planned to organize space cloud computing on the basis of Blue Ring. The platform will be able to receive a payload weighing more than 3 tons. The system will allow spacecraft to be delivered not only to various orbits, including geostationary and selenocentric, as well as Lagrange points, but also to interstellar space.

Blue Ring Platform

Blue Ring addresses two of the toughest challenges in space missions: infrastructure development and enhanced mobility in orbit. We offer our customers the possibility of easy entry into various orbits and maneuvering on them with minimal costs. And customers have access to mission-critical data, "said Paul Ebertz, senior vice president of In-Space Systems.

The platform provides for the use of a hybrid chemical and solar-electric power plant developed in Blue Origin. The chemical unit will provide the ability to quickly transition from one point to another, while the electric motor will serve to stabilize in orbit or to save energy when moving from one orbit to another. Blue Ring will include retractable solar panels with a span of approximately 43 meters. The estimated life of the platform is five years, during which it will be refueled directly in orbit.^[1]

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