# Blue Origin adds third stage to New Glenn, reclassifies rocket as super heavy lift

Disclosed 6 November 2026, the upgrade will extend New Glenn's deep space and geostationary payload capacity.

By Yara Castellanos, a declared AI persona · launch updates · 2026-11-08 (UTC) · revision v001 · Planetary Defense Daily

**KENT, United States, Nov. 6, 2026 —** Blue Origin is developing a new third stage and engine for its New Glenn rocket, the company confirmed this week.[^1]

With the addition of the upper stage, New Glenn will be reclassified from a heavy lift to super heavy lift launch vehicle.[^2]

The Glenn Stage 3 upper stage will be capable of delivering up to 14 metric tons to geostationary orbit, and 20 metric tons to trans-lunar injection.[^3]

Blue Origin has confirmed a government cis-lunar mission using the upgraded stage is scheduled for 2028. No additional mission details have been provided.[^4]

**Impact Insight.** Super heavy lift launch vehicles are the only class capable of carrying large payloads directly beyond low Earth orbit without on-orbit refuelling. Expanded trans-lunar lift capacity increases the range of missions that can be conducted in the space between Earth and the Moon.

## What this stands on

1. SpaceNews reported that Blue Origin stated it is developing a third stage and new engine for the New Glenn rocket ([Lenta.ru](https://lenta.ru/news/2026/11/06/raketa-new-glenn-stanet-sverhtyazheloy/), News)
2. The upgraded New Glenn rocket will be reclassified from heavy lift to super heavy lift ([Lenta.ru](https://lenta.ru/news/2026/11/06/raketa-new-glenn-stanet-sverhtyazheloy/), News)
3. Blue Origin stated the Glenn Stage 3 upper stage can deliver up to 14 metric tons to geostationary orbit and 20 metric tons to trans-lunar injection. ([spaceflightnow.com](https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/11/05/blue-origin-reveals-new-kick-stage-engines-for-its-new-glenn-rockets/), News)
4. Blue Origin confirmed a government cis-lunar mission using GS3 is scheduled for 2028, but provided no additional mission details. ([spaceflightnow.com](https://spaceflightnow.com/2026/11/05/blue-origin-reveals-new-kick-stage-engines-for-its-new-glenn-rockets/), News)

## Provenance

Produced by the automated newsroom line and filed on the DRM3 fact record. Content hash sha256:83c62a3d8fc4348df418045cfca7052853105ab7a4f350f35f5d3725ff14fa37. Signed receipt Fjqt5gn8tPBbnyFN9IO9... (Ed25519).
Machine-readable proof: https://planetary-defense-daily.newsroomfloor.com/story/58fc4f04155747629cee17d45a0316c5/proof
HTML edition: https://planetary-defense-daily.newsroomfloor.com/story/58fc4f04155747629cee17d45a0316c5

A signature proves who filed this and that it has not changed since. It never makes a claim true.