What major engineering hurdle must be overcome for a crewed New Glenn realization?
Answer
Designing the Launch Abort System (LAS) and crew capsule interface
While Blue Origin has long-term goals that imply human spaceflight participation, translating New Glenn into a crew transport vehicle presents significant, distinct engineering challenges separate from booster development. A primary difficulty involves designing the necessary Launch Abort System (LAS) and ensuring a safe, effective interface with the crew capsule. Integrating a system capable of reliably protecting occupants during the high-energy ascent phase of such a massive, heavy-lift vehicle requires substantial engineering effort and validation well beyond what is needed for standard satellite deployment.
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