ULA Partners with Blue Origin to Supply Booster Engine for Vulcan Centaur Rocket

[cageymaru]

United Launch Alliance has chosen Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin to supply the advanced booster engine for the Vulcan Centaur rocket system. The Vulcan Centaur is expected to make its initial flight in mid-2020 and will provide affordable and reliable access to space for ULA customers as the rocket is designed for low recurring cost. A duo of Blue Origin's BE-4 engines have been selected for Vulcan Centaur's booster stage with each producing 550,000 pounds of sea level thrust. Numerous other manufacturers are supplying parts for the rocket system and these are expected to add 22,000 direct and indirect American jobs in 46 states.

The new rocket design is nearing completion, and the booster preliminary design and critical design reviews have been completed. Vulcan Centaur will have a maximum liftoff thrust of 3.8 million pounds and carry 56,000 pounds to low Earth orbit, 33,000 pounds to a geo-transfer orbit and 16,000 pounds to geostationary orbit with greater capability than any currently available single-core launch vehicle. "Our new rocket will be superior in reliability, cost and capability - one system for all missions," said Bruno. "We have been working closely with the U.S. Air Force, and our certification plan is in place."

 

[katanaD]

Numerous other manufacturers are supplying parts for the rocket system and these are expected to add 22,000 direct and indirect American jobs in 46 states

And that right there is why Spacex is gonna eat their lunch in the launch business.

but, it is a nice handout to Blue origin to help keep them in the business. We need more avenues into space.