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<\/p>\nOne of the flagship engines that will play a heavy role in the next phase of commercial launches is continuing to enjoy a smooth test series during hot fire testing. The BE-4 engine conducted another test in recent days at Blue Origin\u2019s West Texas Test Facility, as preparations continue for its use on the company\u2019s New Glenn rocket.<\/p>\n
Blue Origin is conducting incremental testing of the BE-4 that will be used on its New Glenn rocket.<\/p>\n
The engine is at the center of Blue Origin\u2019s major expansion from its continuing suborbital space tourism aspirations, involving its New Shepard system, to becoming a major player in the commercial satellite space industry.<\/p>\n
By far the most visible sign of that upcoming role is the company\u2019s expansive facility on the Space Coast, with a gigantic production facility nearing completion on Merritt Island.<\/p>\n
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Blue Origin Facility \u2013 via NSF\/L2<\/p>\n
This facility will house the production of the Blue Origin hardware that will launch from the nearby LC-36 complex.<\/p>\n
With each first stage booster planned to be reused up to 100 times, the factory will mainly concentrate on \u2013 and for large periods of time is only planned to \u2013 produce second and third stages.<\/p>\n
All of the concrete that previously served the LC-36A and B pads has been removed; however, instead of hauling the good concrete away, Blue Origin recycled and repurposed it \u2013 using the concrete as the base for the new road network needed for the redesigned pad.<\/p>\n
Blue Origin will also build their Launch and Landing Control Center, called the L&LCC, as well as their mission support center near the factory building.<\/p>\n
The goal is to create an \u201cOrbital Launch Site (OLS)\u201d as outlined in documentation, which remains subject to change based on environmental impacts.<\/p>\n
Technology News (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n Launches of the New Glenn rocket will be powered by the BE-4, a staged-combustion rocket engine capable of producing 2,400 kilonewtons (550,000 lbf) of thrust at sea level.<\/p>\n BE-4 engine \u2013 via Blue Origin<\/p>\n The engine has been under development since 2011. However, following design and component testing, it finally fired up in October, 2017 at the West Texas facility where Blue Origin conducts their testing and New Shepard launches.<\/p>\n A sign of the incremental ramping up of the test series can be observed via some of the videos Blue Origin have released, with the first test involving a short three second firing at 50 percent.<\/p>\n Another test was conducted late last year, before the latest firing which showed the engine being put through a series of throttle settings, as noted by the change in appearance to the mach diamonds during the video.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/2018-01-08-201512.jpg\")
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