Blue Origin Just Installed New Glenn’s BE-4 Engines

Early this morning Blue Origin shared the first images of a New Glenn booster with 7 BE-4 engines installed. This is the first time we’ve ever seen this and with it all being flight hardware, a launch very soon is expected.

In addition to the image, the company’s CEO shared more information on the engines, their operation on the upcoming flight, and even which specific engines are responsible for gimbaling.

Credit:

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:28 - 7 Engines Installed
3:42 - Even More Progress

[Papershields]

Competition is a good thing. I see a lot of people dismiss blue origin but if the performance of the BE-4s is anything to go by, I think that there could be a bright future for this vehicle. I for one am excited to see the capabilities of New Glenn. Once blue and rocketlab have their own vehicles going the US will be the only country on earth with a stable of reusable next gen launch vehicles.

[Underdogfosho]

Let's go New Glenn ! Probably one of the better looking Rockets out there !

[alansnyder]

I'm looking forward to the Blue Origin launch. Hope it works and we have two companies returning the first stage from orbit.

[nowhereman]

GS-1 "So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance" just rolled out to LC-36. All the main sections: the midbody tanks, the interstage forward module, and the engine module, have been there before for testing, but this is the first time all three have been there together as a complete vehicle.

[notgreg]

Woo! This rocket has much ahead of it im excited

[sheepuff]

The rocket industry has come a long way since SpaceX landed their first booster.

What was once one single partially reusable rocket has grown into an entire family of partially reusable rockets, with New Glenn coming possibly this year and Neutron not too long after.

[victorkrawchuk]

It's interesting that in Tim Dodd's video a few months ago Jeff Bezos said that they are developing reusable ("Project Jarvis") and non-reusable versions of the New Glenn upper stage in parallel. Whichever approach proves to be the most cost-effective is what they will eventually go with. Surely the first flight will use the non-reusable upper stage, but does anyone know what re-entry approach Blue Origin has decided to adopt for the reusable version? The last thing I read was that they were considering three options: 1) a winged design, 2) an aerospike engine design where the engine doubled as a heat shield, and 3) a Starship-inspired flaps design. I wonder how closely Blue Origin engineers watched the SpaceX IFT-4 and IFT-5 missions, especially regarding the Starship re-entries over the India Ocean.

[dorbie]

Huntsville back in the game. It's about time.

[minibeefcake]

I feel like they still have quite a way to go. As the video say they haven't done a static fire test with the completed booster yet. They also haven't done a booster relight test on the ground either.

[gregknipe]

perhaps cover the construction of the engines. thank you for your work here.

[Starshipsforever]

Your video title is misleading. They didn't "just install" the engines. The engines have been installed for a while now, and the heat shielding around them. This is the first time it has been shown off.

[plainText]

Does anyone know what's up with that pattern of silver and brown around the engines? (Seen for example at 0:33) Have they just not finished installing the thermal shielding around the engines, or is there a reason for this irregular pattern?

[FerociousPancake]

“No one has landed a reusable booster on the first try.” I’ve got some bad new for him if he hasn’t heard about starship IFT-5. It will still be an incredible feat if they land it first try. It’s a good looking rocket and I’m excited to see it fly.

[winstonsmith]

Any news on Rocket Lab's Neutron?

[Mr_Lyric]

5:50 Spacex: I hate to say it but he is right, we only caught an orbital booster on our first attempt

[victorkrawchuk]

The video seemed to imply that there would be two New Glenn launches this year, followed by a third launch in March 2025. However, the launch manifest only shows the Maiden flight that will test the Blue Ring Transfer Tug in November 2024, and the Pathfinder 1 mission that will test HLS capabilities to the Lunar neighborhood in March 2025. A 2nd flight in 2024 seemed really unlikely to me. Am I missing something? Thanks.

[xitheris]

Blue Origin can no longer claim landing a new booster on the first try. SpaceX landed Superheavy on IFT-5. I'm still looking forward to New Glenn's first flight tho.

[JaviAirwraps]

The Blue Origin statement that “no one has ever landed a reusable rocket on the first try” must have been said before the landing of super heavy last week lol

[greslycraane]

Im an spacex fan but doesnt mean i hate other space companies. Blue Origin have disappoint alot in their slow progress. Finally New Glenn is coming to life. I really want this rocket to launch with succes and land with succes also on the barge they said it will. Then we will have a good boxing fight to see in space Industry of two mega companies living their dreams. Awesome 😎🤘🏼❤

[kuckoo]

I'd be more excited for BO if they weren't so litigious toward SpaceX in past years. Bezos' legal and smear campaigns were totally unnecessary. Just let your people do their thing and work to catch up, and stop sh_tting all over your competitor. We're all on the same team.