Blue Origin

[Beati Dogu]

New test footage of their BE-4 rocket engine:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksGnkKeGy4I


You can see they're throttling it up and down. This thing needs to be nice and controllable for landings etc.


https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/8/16862772/blue-or...

Edited by Beati Dogu on Tuesday 9th January 23:18

[MartG]

"Blue Origin’s orbital rocket in the running to receive U.S. military investment"

https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/04/13/blue-origins...

[Beati Dogu]

Makes sense to keep their options open.

Blue Origin's BE-4 engine was shown off at the 34th Space Symposium in Colorado Springs this week:




Their CEO, Bob Smith, says he expects the engine to complete qualification testing by the end of the year.

They've taken 7 years to get it this far apparently.


As for using it on ULA's Vulcan rocket first stage as well. ULA CEO Tory Bruno just says the decision will be made... “Soon.”

[Eric Mc]

The three astronauts on the left are the crew for the first NASA SLS/Orion launch - now scheduled for 2040.

[MartG]

Eric Mc said:

The three astronauts on the left are the crew for the first NASA SLS/Orion launch - now scheduled for 2040.

Optimist !

[Beati Dogu]

Sad but true.

[MartG]

"Launch preparations are underway for New Shepard’s 8th test flight, as we continue our progress toward human spaceflight. We are currently targeting launch on Sunday, April 29th – with the launch window opening up at 8:30 a.m. CDT.

Livestream will be available on BlueOrigin.com, more info to come.

-Gradatim Ferociter!"

[Kccv23highliftcam]

Grudging respect to BO they seem to be moving along nicely.

Good website too. Easy to find info.

[Beati Dogu]

Mannequin Skywalker wll be piloting this one again.

[Eric Mc]

2 minutes to go - currently in a Hold.

[Beati Dogu]

Hosted broadcast with Everyday Astronaut:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5aJrl96QJw

[MartG]

Nice flight

[Kccv23highliftcam]

Good chutes and soft landing for booster and capsule.

Oh and nice windows. Very nice windows.

[Eric Mc]

The parachute deployment seemed very late.

[Beati Dogu]

Probably to stop the winds drifting the capsule off the range.

[Eric Mc]

If the winds had been high enough to cause a problem, they would have scrubbed. Most drogue chutes deploy above 20,000 feet with mains out by 10,000 feet.

[Kccv23highliftcam]

Shall I mention the BIIGGG windows again?

[Beati Dogu]

They need a bigger server. Their website clearly can't cope with the added interest.


Short video from the flight:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6_RvniifL8

[MartG]

Bezos has high hopes

http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/after-rescuing-the-ex...

[AshVX220]

After reading the Syfy link above I've just done a quick google, New Glenn is massive, almost BFR levels of massive! When Blue Origin and SpaceX both really get into the swing with their big heavy lift stuff we're really in for an exciting time I think.