Amazon founder and Blue Origin CEO, Jeff Bezos revealed this week that the company’s latest rocket engine is now ready and that the first ever example has now been assembled in full. Another five engines are set to follow the production of this one and together they will form the primary powerplant for the New Glenn 2- and 3-stage rocket.
The New Glenn is the reusable space vehicle that will replace the New Shephard and will have a first stage that’s able to return to the launch site after each flight and position itself upright when doing so. While the rocket is being built, the BE-4 engines will have to undergo rigorous testing at Blue Origin’s West Texas-based site in order to receive certification. The first and second stage boosters are made up of the BE-4 engines, while the third uses a BE-3 engine. This design ensures that there’s enough power to get both astronauts and heavy cargo loads into space.
While the New Glenn is still a long way from being ready to go into space, Bezos is confident that the rocket will be ready to transport goods and people to the moon and back by the end of the decade. But, considering the factory where the intend to build New Glenn hasn’t even been built yet, that may be a little optimistic. Can the team do it? Can they build this revolutionary rocket and launch it safely into space before the end of the decade? I guess only time will tell. Watch this space.
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