TLDR Tech / Hardware
Blue Origin Traces May's New Glenn Explosion to a Faulty BE-4 Engine Valve
Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp said the May explosion that destroyed a New Glenn rocket during a prelaunch engine test originated at the main oxygen valve on one of its BE-4 engines, confirmed through hardware recovery and inspection. The fix is straightforward: small modifications to the valve that can be quickly retrofitted onto existing engines, with the company aiming to return New Glenn to flight later this year. The BE-4 also powers United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket, so ULA has been collaborating with Blue Origin on the investigation. The finding gives both companies a clear, containable root cause rather than an open-ended engine redesign.
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