{"id":17278,"date":"2023-07-11T18:32:05","date_gmt":"2023-07-11T10:32:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/blue-origins-next-gen-be-4-rocket-engine-fails-dramatically-during-testing-in-texas\/"},"modified":"2023-07-11T18:32:05","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T10:32:05","slug":"blue-origins-next-gen-be-4-rocket-engine-fails-dramatically-during-testing-in-texas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/blue-origins-next-gen-be-4-rocket-engine-fails-dramatically-during-testing-in-texas\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Origin\u2019s next-gen BE-4 rocket engine fails dramatically during testing in Texas"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"BE-4
Blue Origin\u2019s BE-4 rocket engine undergoes a test firing in Texas in 2019. (Blue Origin File Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jeff Bezos\u2019 Blue Origin space venture confirmed that one of its BE-4 rocket engines suffered a significant anomaly during testing at its West Texas facility in late June.<\/p>\n

The incident first came to light today in a report from CNBC, which quoted unnamed sources as saying that the engine detonated about 10 seconds into a test firing on June 30. CNBC said the engine was meant to be used for the second launch of United Launch Alliance\u2019s next-generation Vulcan rocket. That launch, known as Cert-2, is meant to send Sierra Space\u2019s Dream Chaser space plane on an uncrewed cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station.<\/p>\n

Blue Origin already has delivered two BE-4 engines to ULA for the first Vulcan launch, Cert-1, which is tasked with deploying the first two prototype satellites for Amazon\u2019s Project Kuiper broadband network into low Earth orbit as well as sending Astrobotic\u2019s robotic lunar lander on its way to the moon.<\/p>\n

In a statement emailed to GeekWire, ULA said the anomaly is \u201cnot expected to impact our plans\u201d for Cert-1. \u201cThe Cert-1 engines successfully passed acceptance testing and the BE-4 engines are qualified for the Cert-1 mission,\u201d ULA said.<\/p>\n

The cause of last month\u2019s anomaly is under investigation, Blue Origin said today in an emailed statement: <\/p>\n

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\u201cIn late June, we ran into an issue while testing Vulcan\u2019s Flight Engine 3 at our West Texas facility. No personnel were injured, and we are currently assessing root cause. ULA was immediately made aware. The West Texas test facility is able to continue testing at the site. We already have proximate cause and are working on remedial actions. We will be able to meet our engine delivery commitments this year and stay ahead of our customer\u2019s launch needs.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Getting Blue Origin\u2019s BE-4 engines ready for their first launch has already taken years longer than Blue Origin or ULA anticipated when they announced the rocket development project in 2014. The BE-4 is designed to use liquefied natural gas as fuel and provide 550,000 pounds of thrust with deep throttle capability.<\/p>\n

The engines are to be used not only on Vulcan\u2019s first-stage booster, but also on Blue Origin\u2019s orbital-class New Glenn rocket, which is expected to have its first launch no earlier than 2024. Blue Origin has already struck deals for multiple satellite launches using New Glenn, and NASA plans to use New Glenn for the launch of twin spacecraft to Mars in late 2024. If it takes longer than Blue Origin anticipates to address the issues raised by last month\u2019s test failure, that could have a domino effect on those missions.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the first Vulcan launch has been delayed due to a completely different issue: a fiery anomaly that ULA experienced during testing of the Vulcan rocket\u2019s Centaur V upper stage in March. ULA says it\u2019s modifying the upper stage to address issues raised by that anomaly, which did not involve the BE-4 rocket engine. <\/p>\n

ULA is a joint venture involving Boeing and Lockheed Martin.<\/p>\n

Update for 10:15 p.m. PT July 11: <\/strong>United Launch Alliance\u2019s CEO, Tory Bruno, discussed the June 30 incident in a series of tweets. The failure of the engine\u2019s acceptance test, or ATP, was \u201cway less interesting than it sounds,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey happen. That\u2019s why we acceptance test each component coming off the line before accepting delivery,\u201d Bruno said. He said he was \u201cvery\u201d confident that the failure of the test was due to poor workmanship on that particular engine, rather than an overlooked flaw in the engine design. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a sampling of other tweets in the thread:<\/p>\n

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