High-thrust LOX/LNG rocket engine powering New Glenn and Vulcan Centaur, designed for high reusability.
BE-4 Engine
High-thrust LOX/LNG rocket engine powering New Glenn and Vulcan Centaur, designed for high reusability.
Description
The BE-4 is Blue Origin's high-thrust, reusable liquid rocket engine burning liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas (LNG). With approximately 2,400 kN of thrust per engine, BE-4 is one of the most powerful American rocket engines developed in decades. It uses an oxidizer-rich staged combustion cycle, which maximizes specific impulse and combustion efficiency.
BE-4 was developed to power both Blue Origin's New Glenn (seven engines on the first stage) and United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur (two engines). ULA selected BE-4 over competitor engines in 2018 after a years-long competition, making the engine commercially significant beyond Blue Origin's own vehicles. Vulcan Centaur's first flight in January 2024 demonstrated BE-4's performance in service.
The engine is designed for reuse: Blue Origin stated targets of 25+ flights per engine for the New Glenn application. Its LNG propellant is low-cost, widely available, and produces a cleaner exhaust than RP-1-burning engines, reducing post-flight inspection requirements.
Blue Origin manufactures BE-4 at its Kent, Washington, and Huntsville, Alabama facilities and has delivered engines to ULA for Vulcan Centaur production campaigns.
Specifications
| Thrust (vacuum) | ~2,400 kN per engine |
|---|---|
| Propellant | LOX / LNG (liquefied natural gas) |
| Cycle | Oxidizer-rich staged combustion |
| Reusability target | 25+ flights per engine |
| Applications | New Glenn (×7 first stage); Vulcan Centaur (×2) |
| Development completed | Certification flights 2022–2024 |
