According to Sawyer Merritt, former United Launch Alliance (ULA) CEO Tory Bruno has joined Blue Origin as President, National Security, reporting to CEO Dave Limp. This leadership change signals a strategic focus on national security and space technology, where AI-powered solutions such as autonomous spacecraft navigation, mission planning, and satellite data analysis are increasingly critical. Bruno’s experience is expected to accelerate Blue Origin’s adoption of advanced AI for defense and aerospace applications, opening new business opportunities in government contracts and AI-driven space technologies (source: Sawyer Merritt on Twitter).

According to Sawyer Merritt, Blue Origin has announced significant upgrades to its New Glenn rocket, including propulsion enhancements and a new heavy-lift variant, aimed at improving payload capacity, launch cadence, and operational reliability (Source: Sawyer Merritt on Twitter). The BE-4 booster engines now target 4.5M lbf thrust, with individual engines aiming for 640,000 lbf later this year, while BE-3U upper-stage engines will increase to 400,000 lbf. Structural upgrades include a reusable fairing, updated tank design, and improved thermal protection, facilitating higher launch frequency and reduced turnaround times. The introduction of the New Glenn 9×4 variant—a super-heavy class rocket—brings over 70 metric tons to LEO and 14+ metric tons direct to GEO, meeting demand for high-lift missions. These advancements position Blue Origin as a strong competitor in commercial launch services and present new opportunities for AI-driven mission planning, payload optimization, and predictive maintenance in the aerospace industry.