Blue Origin shared first look at New Glenn BE-4 engine after installation

Blue Origin has shared a first look at the New Glenn rocket’s engine module after completing the BE-4 installations as it prepares for its first flight this year.

The bottom view of the rocket shows seven BE-4 engines. Combined, these will generate more than 3.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. Three of these can gimbal to provide control movements for New Glenn after liftoff.

It helped maintain the trajectory during the first stage’s re-entry and landing on the autonomous droneship named Jacklyn. This is one of the core functionalities for New Glenn’s first stage and provides the ability to deliver reusability.

The company primarily designed this gimbal functionality for ascent when the flight has to fly through high-altitude winds.

Blue Origin New Glenn rocket with BE-4 engines installed (Source – Blue Origin)

BE-4

This is a liquid natural gas-fueled oxygen-stage combustion engine. Each of these can produce 550,000 lbf of thrust with deep throttle.

It is designed to be a medium-performing version of a high-performance architecture. Its architecture has lower development risk but according to performance and flight reusability.

With these, the company aims for at least 25 reusable flights for one booster. Meanwhile, the second stage uses two BE-3U vacuum engines with 160,000 lbf of thrust.

Combined with the two stages, the rocket stands tall at more than 98 meters including the 7-meter payload fairings on top.

The first stage has four actuated aerodynamic control fins to adjust altitude during the descent and landing. The bottom side of the booster has wings-like strakes to provide lift and cross-range during descent.

The booster also includes an aft module with six hydraulically actuated legs to ground the vehicle on the landing site or the droneship.

Launch Date

Last month, Blue Origin completed the first static fire test for the second stage and is looking for November to conduct the first launch of this mega rocket. However, a specific date is not announced.

(source)