{"id":18556,"date":"2018-04-19T21:09:37","date_gmt":"2018-04-19T13:09:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/blue-origin-ceo-says-next-gen-be-4-rocket-engine-meets-technical-requirements\/"},"modified":"2018-04-19T21:09:37","modified_gmt":"2018-04-19T13:09:37","slug":"blue-origin-ceo-says-next-gen-be-4-rocket-engine-meets-technical-requirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/blue-origin-ceo-says-next-gen-be-4-rocket-engine-meets-technical-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Origin CEO says next-gen BE-4 rocket engine meets technical requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_413781\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-413781\" style=\"width: 630px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full-width wp-image-413781\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/180420-blue-630x443.jpg\" alt=\"Blue Origin BE-4 engine\" width=\"630\" height=\"443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/180420-blue-630x443.jpg 630w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/180420-blue-768x541.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/180420-blue-1260x887.jpg 1260w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-413781\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Blue Origin\u2019s BE-4 rocket engine is on display in Colorado Springs. (Blue Origin Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.&nbsp;\u2014 For years, there\u2019s been a big question surrounding the next-generation BE-4 rocket engine that\u2019s being built by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos\u2019 Blue Origin space venture: Will it be good enough for United Launch Alliance, a crucial prospective customer?<\/p>\n<p>Now Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith says the BE-4 has passed all of the technical tests required for ULA to sign onto a production contract.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve met the technical and performance requirements that they\u2019re looking for,\u201d Smith told GeekWire today during a one-on-one interview at the 34th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. \u201cAnd so we\u2019re just working through how do we actually get to a production deal. We\u2019re working through terms and conditions, termination liability, all of the things you\u2019d want within a contractual structure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Smith said there\u2019s been good interaction with ULA on the technical side of the BE-4 test-firing process. \u201cAt this point, we think it\u2019s just, how do we get to the commercial production deal?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_413706\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-413706\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-413706\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/180419-bobsmith-630x673.jpg\" alt=\"Bob Smith\" width=\"300\" height=\"321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/180419-bobsmith-630x673.jpg 630w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/180419-bobsmith-281x300.jpg 281w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-413706\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bob Smith is CEO of Blue Origin. (Blue Origin Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Bringing the BE-4 project to fruition ranks among the highest priorities for Smith, a veteran aerospace executive whom Bezos brought in to fill the newly created role of chief executive officer last year.<\/p>\n<p>Blue Origin and ULA joined forces back in 2014, with the objective of putting the BE-4 engines on ULA\u2019s next-generation Vulcan rocket. The BE-4 is designed to be used on Blue Origin\u2019s orbital-class New Glenn rocket as well. Both rockets are supposed to enter service by 2020.<\/p>\n<p>If ULA gives the go-ahead, Blue Origin plans to ramp up BE-4 engine production, which is currently being done at the company\u2019s main facility in Kent, Wash. A big part of the ramp-up would involve opening up a new engine factory in Huntsville, Ala.<\/p>\n<p>But ULA is still keeping its options open, just in case it can\u2019t strike a deal with Blue Origin. Plan B focuses on Aerojet Rocketdyne\u2019s AR1 rocket engine. During a meeting with journalists earlier in the week, Aerojet CEO and President Eileen Drake said \u201cwe are well on our way to produce the first engine.\u201d AR1 test firings are due to begin next year, she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the end of the day, we will be able to offer \u2026 an engine like no other engine in the United States,\u201d Drake said. \u201cIt will have a lot of applicability.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno has shied away from providing a precise timetable for making the decision on the engine, other than to say it\u2019ll be made \u201csoon.\u201d ULA spokeswoman Jessica Rye declined to comment specifically on Smith\u2019s remarks, but noted that engine selection would be part of a competitive procurement process.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=b0yle&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=986273616974184454&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekwire.com%2F2018%2Fblue-origin-ceo-says-next-gen-4-rocket-engine-meets-technical-requirements%2F&amp;sessionId=571de88cfea2b5b518d6bd7e41827e3fdb209954&amp;siteScreenName=geekwire&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-tweet-id=\"986273616974184454\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i1782801204687716477=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">For those who are wondering when @ulalaunch is going to chose between @blueorigin &#8216;s BE-4 and @AerojetRdyne &#8216;s AR1 engine for its Vulcan rocket, here is @torybruno &#8216;s official answer. #34SS pic.twitter.com\/DF8DOWct2e<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Valerie Insinna (@ValerieInsinna) April 17, 2018<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Getting the BE-4 qualified and into commercial production would mark a milestone for Blue Origin, and improve the status of Bezos\u2019 company with respect to fellow billionaire Elon Musk\u2019s SpaceX.<\/p>\n<p>The road hasn\u2019t always been smooth: Last May, Bezos reported that an engine powerpack was lost during a round of testing at Blue Origin\u2019s West Texas facility.<\/p>\n<p>Smith said Blue Origin learned lessons from that setback. \u201cWe incorporated a lot of changes associated with how do we deal with foreign object debris,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n<p>He said the 550,000-pound-thrust engine, which is fueled by liquefied natural gas, is still \u201cvery much in testing.\u201d It hasn\u2019t yet been cranked up to 100 percent of its maximum power, and it hasn\u2019t yet been fired for full mission duration.<\/p>\n<p>But Smith drew attention to a 114-second test firing at 65 percent power. That time duration is roughly half of what\u2019ll be required for launch, he said. Other tests have throttled the engine between 40 percent and 70 percent power levels, or have fired the engine for longer than 114 seconds, Smith said.<\/p>\n<p>Just as importantly, the BE-4 is meeting expectations for reusability. \u201cThe hardware looks excellent, so for a reusable launch vehicle that\u2019s a great thing,\u201d Smith said. The engine that went through Blue Origin\u2019s first full-fledged test firing last October is on display at the Space Symposium.<\/p>\n<p>Formal engine qualification is expected by the end of the year.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Latest BE-4 engine test footage\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ksGnkKeGy4I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\" data-width=\"800\" data-height=\"450\" style=\"display: block; margin: 0px; width: 800px; height: 450px;\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Smith said Blue Origin is designing the BE-4 to have a 100-mission lifetime. And he added that Blue Origin won\u2019t stop with BE-4.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are a propulsion company at our core, and yes, there will be additional engines,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>For example, Blue Origin recently announced that it would use a vacuum-optimized version of its hydrogen-fueled BE-3 engine on New Glenn\u2019s second stage.<\/p>\n<p>Smith said making the switch \u201cwasn\u2019t a particularly hard decision.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe rocket equation fundamentally says that: You want high thrust on the first stage, and you want to have high ISP [specific impulse] on the second stage,\u201d Smith said. Liquid hydrogen can provide the high performance that Blue Origin and its customers will be looking for.<\/p>\n<p><strong>On other topics:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Smith said Blue Origin is still planning to start flying people on its New Shepard suborbital spaceship by the end of the year, after further uncrewed tests. \u201cWe would have loved to have flown more, earlier, but the design incorporation didn\u2019t go as quickly as we\u2019d like it to,\u201d Smith said. He said \u201cwe\u2019re going to go [with passengers] only when we\u2019re ready, when it\u2019s safe and reliable.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>The first passengers will essentially be test pilots rather than paying customers. (\u201cPilots\u201d may be overstating it, because New Shepard is designed to fly itself autonomously.) Smith said the time frame for taking on customers will depend on how the crewed test program goes. No decisions have been made on ticket prices. \u201cWe don\u2019t have those discussions internally, because I continue to say we have to focus on the capability first,\u201d he said.<\/li>\n<li>Smith said he was encouraged by the National Space Council\u2019s fresh focus on moon exploration. \u201cWe intend to participate in that in some way,\u201d he said. However, he declined to provide new details about Blue Origin\u2019s lunar lander program, known as Blue Moon. Previously, Blue Origin has said the Blue Moon lander could transport up to 5,000 kilograms (11,000 pounds) of cargo to the lunar surface. That capability would mesh well with NASA\u2019s plans to support the development of medium- to large-class lunar landers in the mid-2020s.<\/li>\n<li>Smith said Blue Origin wants to provide launch capability for national security missions, as well as for NASA and commercial missions. \u201cOperational reusability means you want to take as many customers as you can. What you want is asset utilization. You want to fly it often,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt\u2019s like having a 737: The reason why low-cost carriers want to go fly their aircraft so often is just to get that asset utilization. Every time it\u2019s flying, it\u2019s generating revenue. It\u2019s the same philosophy we have with New Glenn.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blue Origin\u2019s BE-4 rocket engine is on display in Colorado Springs. (Blue Origin Photo) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.&nbsp;\u2014 For years, there\u2019s been a big question surrounding the next-generation BE-4 rocket engine that\u2019s being built by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos\u2019 Blue Origin space venture: Will it be good enough for United Launch Alliance, a crucial prospective customer? [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4459,1508,509,4536,510,1250],"class_list":["post-18556","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-be-4-rocket-engine","tag-blue-moon","tag-blue-origin","tag-bob-smith","tag-new-glenn","tag-new-shepard"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18556"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18556"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18556\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18556"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18556"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18556"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}