American aerospace company Blue Origin, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, has announced the technical specifications of its future Blue Ring orbital tug. The device was unveiled at the annual SpaceCom conference in Orlando, Florida. portal Space News.
Blue Origin describes the Blue Ring as a tool for space logistics near Earth, in the lunar field and beyond.
The ship is equipped with 12 berthing ports, each of which can carry up to 500 kilograms of cargo. The upper deck of the carrier can carry up to 2.5 tons of cargo. Blue Ring is capable of maneuvering in different orbits at speeds of up to three kilometers per second.
“Blue Ring’s primary mission is to place satellites into desired orbits, but the spacecraft can also be used as a payload vehicle,” said Blue Origin Vice President Lars Hoffman.
According to the senior executive, the ship’s docking modules support the installation of various equipment, including robotic manipulators for servicing in space. Additionally, the Blue Ring can be refueled and can also be used to refuel other spacecraft. However, the type of fuel used remains a mystery for now.
Blue Origin has not announced Blue Ring’s expected initial launch date. Lars Hoffman stated that the company is in talks with potential customers, but wants to discuss cooperation options in more detail.
Formerly Blue Origin to win NASA’s lunar lander building competition.