Another update from Jeff Bezos

Just seen in my inbox this message:

We’re making multiple copies of the BE-4 to take us through our development campaign, along with a healthy amount of hardware spares to mitigate schedule and technical risks encountered along the way - - a “hardware rich” approach to development. To maintain a fast pace, we’ve elected over the past years to invest heavily in key machines, tooling and people for the production of BE-4 so we can control critical processes in-house.

 

Beginning to slot one of our nozzles

 

Completion of slotting of a main combustion chamber

 

Main propellant valve machining

 

Preparing inspected GOx dome casting for machining

We’ve also started testing the BE-4 preburner in our recently commissioned pressure-fed test cell. We’re developing the transient start sequence for the preburner, and we’re making good progress.

 

Hot firing a 14” diameter preburner

We’ll continue to keep you posted on our progress as this engine comes together.

Gradatim Ferociter!

Jeff Bezos

(c) Blue Origin