#Centaur V upper stages have been built using #automated laser arc welding 🤖. #SpaceX’s #Starship also employs this welding technique. #ULA will revert back to gas tungsten arc welding. Bruno says it’s a wider weld which can be more forgiving, even though it is done #manually 🖐️. During a test firing on 📆 June 30 one of the #BE4 engines exploded 💥 at a #BlueOrigin testing site. Full vehicle certification is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 📆 2024 https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/07/vulcan-centaur-anomalies/

Inaugural Vulcan Launch Targeting Late 2023 After Anomalies
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/07/vulcan-centaur-anomalies/

United Launch Alliance (ULA) says despite recent anomalies involving their Centaur V upper stage and… The post Inaugural Vulcan Launch Targeting Late 2023 After Anomalies appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .
#Blue_Origin #Commercial #Uncrewed #BE4 #Centaur #Centaur_V #tory_bruno #ULA #United_Launch_Alliance #Vulcan

So after reading a bit more about the #BlueOrigin engine mishap, this is what we know:

1) ULA: ULA has already received the two BE4 engines needed for the inaugural launch of #vulcan.
This mishap will have no impact on the launch date of Vulcan.

2) Blue Origin: The engine in question had previously failed an ATP (Acceptance Test) and was reworked.
After static firing the engine, the engine exploded thus failing the ATP a second time (and last time).

Failing ATP's is not uncommon, especially when you're ramping up production. It's better to fail an ATP than cause a failed launch.

According to Tory Bruno, this is not a big issue and is not uncommon. It's more about scrap rate than anything.

#gospace #space #ULA #BE4 #kuiper

Gizmodo: Potential Setback for Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin as Rocket Engine Explodes in Test https://gizmodo.com/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-rocket-engine-explodes-test-1850631196 #unitedlaunchalliance #vulcancentaur #spacetourism #blueorigin #newshepard #jeffbezos #torybruno #newglenn #centaur #atlas #bruno #ula #be3 #be4

"Jeff Bezos’ #BlueOrigin rocket engine explodes during testing" by @CNBC / @michaelsheetz - #BE4 engine test explosion at Van Horn TX test site is a setback for BO's #NewGlenn and #ULA #Vulcan rockets. Potential cause identified. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/11/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-be-4-rocket-engine-explodes-during-testing.html #VulcanCentaur #space

📆 Aug 2021 #BlueOrigin said the #BE4 would be "ready for flight" by 📆 2017. https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/08/blue-origins-powerful-be-4-engine-is-more-than-four-years-late-heres-why/

📆 Mar 2022 departure of John Vilja, the senior vice president of Blue Engines. Sources familiar with Vilja's work confirmed that he was a good manager and engineer who helped get the #BE4 #RocketEngine program back on track. https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/03/the-manager-of-blue-origins-rocket-engine-program-has-left-the-company/

#Forbes 📆 Jun 23, 2023 "#Amazon says half of the 3,236 #satellites 🛰️ will be up above us by 📆 2026" - but who will #launch 🚀 them ? 🤔 https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidphelan/2023/06/23/project-kuiper-how-amazon-will-drape-the-world-in-satellites/

• #BlueOrigin / #NewGlenn : no news / tests yet
• #Ariane 6 is years late (again)
• #ULA's #Vulcan is late, dependent on #BE4 engines

Blue Update: New Glenn testing hardware at the cape as New Shepard closes in on return to flight
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/06/blue-update/

Recently, Blue Origin has completed several milestones in its programs, as it inches closer to… The post Blue Update: New Glenn testing hardware at the cape as New Shepard closes in on return to flight appeared first on…
#Blue_Origin #Commercial #Featured #Other #Artemis_V #BE4 #Blue #Blue_Moon #Cape_Canaveral #New_Glenn #New_Shepard #Orbital_Ree

📆 June 2022 ⏳ #ULA's #Vulcan rocket was originally scheduled to debut in 📆 2020. ULA is buying #engines for its Vulcan rocket from #BlueOrigin. https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/06/the-large-vulcan-rocket-is-unlikely-to-make-its-debut-in-2022/

#UnitedLaunchAlliance is a joint venture between #LockheedMartin and #Boeing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Launch_Alliance

In late 📆 2014, #BlueOrigin signed an agreement with United Launch Alliance to co-develop the #BE4 engine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BE-4#Vulcan

This is the area where the tank now sits.

---
RT @torybruno
Found it! Ok, since you asked so nicely... here is a full duration @blueorigin #BE4 firing. #VulcanRocket #CountDownToVulcan. Enjoy... https://t.co/HZB2z33ted
https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1575231771913994240

#EverydayAstronaut 📆 2019 #BlueOrigin's #BE4 has potential to be truly game changing at around $133 : kN over 25 flights, which could make it about as cheap to operate than the #Merlin at $117 per kN per flight. But if the #Raptor engine truly lives up to its hype, it could bring that number all the way down to $20 💵 per kN per flight.

#BE4 is around $8 million 💰 per engine, the #Merlin is less than $1 million and for the #Raptor, Elon has mentioned he thinks they can produce the Raptor for cheaper than or close to the Merlin engine https://everydayastronaut.com/raptor-engine

📆 February 2022 Musk indicated that the engine production cost was approximately half that of the Raptor 1 version. Production ⚙️ rate for Raptor 2 has reached 1.8 a day as of 📆 February 2023 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raptor_(rocket_engine_family)#Raptor_2

May the 4th be with you - #Vulcan certification mission planned for 📆 May 4. Second mission #SierraSpace's #DreamChaser. "It will take a couple of years to actually be #reusing the #BE4 engine." https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/02/after-vulcan-comes-online-ula-plans-to-dramatically-increase-launch-cadence/

📆 26 Dec, 2022 "More and more companies are shifting to at least partial #reusability within the #SpaceIndustry." https://thespacebucket.com/how-ula-plans-to-recover-reuse-vulcans-be-4-engines

Path to First Flight Infographic ©️ https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulalaunch/32854051607

10,800 – 27,200 kg to #LEO https://ula.bsshost.me/docs/default-source/rockets/vulcancentaur.pdf

May the 4th be with you - #Vulcan certification mission planned for 📆 May 4. Second mission #SierraSpace's #DreamChaser. It will take a couple of years to actually be #reusing the #BE4 engine." https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/02/after-vulcan-comes-online-ula-plans-to-dramatically-increase-launch-cadence/

📆 26 Dec, 2022 "More and more companies are shifting to at least partial #reusability within the #SpaceIndustry." https://thespacebucket.com/how-ula-plans-to-recover-reuse-vulcans-be-4-engines

Path to First Flight Infographic ©️ https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulalaunch/32854051607

10,800 – 27,200 kg to #LEO https://ula.bsshost.me/docs/default-source/rockets/vulcancentaur.pdf

May the 4th be with you - #Vulcan certification mission planned for 📆 May 4. Second mission #SierraSpace's #DreamChaser. It will take a couple of years to actually be #reusing the #BE4 engine."

📆 26 Dec, 2022 "More and more companies are shifting to at least partial #reusability within the #SpaceIndustry." https://thespacebucket.com/how-ula-plans-to-recover-reuse-vulcans-be-4-engines

Path to First Flight Infographic ©️ https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulalaunch/32854051607

10,800 – 27,200 kg to #LEO https://ula.bsshost.me/docs/default-source/rockets/vulcancentaur.pdf

📆 13 Feb, 2023 #Vulcan stacking complete at #CapeCanaveral. The maiden flight will deliver two #Kuiper prototype broadband #satellites 🛰️ to #LEO, send the #Astrobotic Peregrine commercial #lunar lander to reach the #Moon 🌙, and carry a Celestis Memorial #Spaceflight Payload into #DeepSpace 🌌. Despite the fact that this mission is Vulcan’s first ever launch, it features quite an ambitious flight profile. This will mark many firsts including two #BE4 flight #engines integrated on a rocket 🚀 and igniting for the first time ever.
In the coming days, we can expect more testing updates before the final flight readiness firing 🔥 . https://thespacebucket.com/ula-vulcan-booster-integration-prep-final-testing-more/

#ULA #BlueOrigin #Amazon

Picture : Space Launch Complex #SLC41. Vulcan is currently still in the Vertical Integration Facility #VIF (for “Integrated #testing of the #rocket stages, VLP and ground systems will be conducted within the #VIF over the next few weeks ⏳ before Vulcan rolls out to #SLC41") https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Atlas_V_551_at_Launch_Pad_41.jpg

@tdp let's hope #BlueOrigin gets the #NewGlenn ready soon and increases the #BE4 production. #Ariane isn't really competitive and #India might need some time to develop their commercial #spaceflight

That's a nice looking rocket engine... #BlueOrigin #BE4

https://youtu.be/hdS4azOaF2M

@washingtonpost 📆 October 12, 2022 #Vulcan has been delayed repeatedly, in large part because its #engine, the #BE4, is years late 🥱. That engine is being developed by #BlueOrigin. #SpaceX, though, already has a constellation of more than 3,100 satellites in orbit. Its #Starlink system is operating in more than 30 countries 🌍 https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/10/12/amazon-internet-satellites-ula

#Bezos owns the #WashingtonPost 📰

📆 4 Dec, 2022 #BlueOrigin is targeting 2024 for the first #launch, however, a more #realistic estimate would be later in 📆 2025 as #NewGlenn still has a lot of work 🔧 and testing necessary prior. On the bright side, its #BE4 #engines are only months away from a vital first flight test on #ULA’s #Vulcan #rocket 🚀 https://thespacebucket.com/blue-origin-is-planning-to-use-a-drong-ship-to-land-new-glenn/

Blue Origin conducts fairing testing amid quiet New Glenn progress
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/12/blue-origin-new-glenn/

Blue Origin has quietly been making progress on its orbital New Glenn vehicle, evident by… The post Blue Origin conducts fairing testing amid quiet New Glenn progress appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .
#Blue_Origin #Commercial #Featured #BE4 #New_Glenn #New_Shepard