BE-4 Blue Origin

blue origin began work on new , larger rocket engine in 2011. new engine, blue engine 4, or be-4, change blue origin in first engine combust liquid oxygen , liquid methane propellants. engine has been designed produce 2,400 kilonewtons (550,000 lbf) of thrust, , planned used exclusively on blue origin proprietary launch vehicle. blue origin did not announce new engine public until september 2014.

in late 2014, blue origin signed agreement united launch alliance co-develop be-4 engine, , commit use new engine on upgraded atlas v launch vehicle, replacing single rd-180 russian-made engine. new launch vehicle use 2 of 2,400 kn (550,000 lbf) be-4 engines on each first stage. engine development program began in 2011.

ula expects first flight of new launch vehicle—the vulcan—no earlier 2019.