BE-4 Rocket Engine
Fastest Path to Production | Lowest Cost to Nation
Expedited & Affordable American Engine
The American-made BE-4 liquid rocket engine
provides the fastest path to production and
the lowest cost engine to power the nations
access to space. More than three years into
development, the BE-4 will be qualified for
flight in 2017, at least two years sooner than any
alternatives. The expedited schedule meets the
needs of the nation, while private investment and
modern manufacturing drive BE-4 affordability.
Fully Funded Partnership
United Launch Alliance (ULA) has partnered with
Blue Origin to develop the BE-4 engine as an
integrated part of Vulcan, its Next Generation
Launch System (NGLS), to meet critical national
security, civil and commercial launch needs.
Blue Origins BE-4 liquid rocket engine is the
primary propulsion for ULAs NGLS booster. The
partnership fully funds engine development,
enabling the government to focus resources on
assured space access through reliable domestic
launch services. Committed to completion of
BE-4 development, testing and production, Blue
Origin does not require government investment
to deliver success and mission assurance.
Blue Origins dedicated BE-4 engine test facility in West Texas
BE-4 subscale testing of an oxygen-rich preburner, staged combustion of the preburner, and the main injector assembly
BE-4 Characteristics
Fuel Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Oxidizer Liquid Oxygen (LOx)
Cycle Oxygen-Rich Staged
Combustion (ORSC)
Flight First Flight on Vulcan in 2019
Testing Underway & On Schedule
Powerpack and component testing is underway
at our dedicated facilities near Van Horn, Texas.
Powerpack testing began in 2014 and includes
testing of turbopumps and main valves. Blue
Origin is conducting testing of subscale components
to reduce risk and accelerate development. Full-
engine testing will commence in 2016, with the BE-4
ready to support the first Vulcan flight in 2019.
Defined Production Pathway
Blue Origins transition from development to
production advances our existing lean capabilities
while reducing risks in the establishment of a new
engine production site. The facility will use modern
machinery and additive manufacturing techniques
to shorten lead time and lower life-cycle costs.
BE-4 powerpack in operation during start transient testing
Blue Origin, LLC was established
by Amazon.com CEO and
founder Jeff Bezos with a bold
vision of greatly increasing the
number of people that fly into
space so that we humans can
better continue exploring the
solar system. Blue Origin is
focused on developing vehicles
and technologies to dramatically
lower the cost and increase the
safety of human spaceflight.

For more information and a list of

job openings, please visit us at
www.blueorigin.com

CONTACT
Griffin Communications Group
+1 (281) 335-0200
blueorigin@griffincg.com