HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Parts of Huntsville are headed into space, but this time, the parts are reusable.
According to the Blue Origin website, the engines of the Blue Origin New Glenn reusable rocket were made in Kent, Wash. and Huntsville, Ala.
The engines are the BE-3PM, BE-3U, BE-4 and BE-7. Each rocket has a different function:
The BE-3PM is designed to thrust the rocket up but also enables the rocket to gently land vertically on the designed landing pad. This engine is unique and can generate 110,000 Ibf (490 kN) but then thrust down to 20,000 (90 kN) when landing. “The BE-3PM was the first new liquid hydrogen-fueled rocket engine to be developed for production in America in over a decade,” said Blue Origin.
The BE-3U is designed to operate in the vacuum of space and powers the rocket’s upper stage. This engine can generate 160,000 Ibf (712kN).
The BE-4 engine is the “most powerful liquefied natural gas fueled oxygen-rich staged combustion engine,” said Blue Origin. It has a high efficiency with a low cost and wide availability. It can produce 550,000 lbf (2,450 kN).
The BE-7 is a high-performance, dual-expander cycle engine that generates 10,000 lbf (44.5 kN). “The high specific impulse, deep throttling, and restart capabilities of BE-7 make the engine ideal for large lunar payload missions,” said Blue Origin…