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> BE-4 engines from Blue Origin are fantastic Are they? Outside of being staged combustion they aren't that impressive. Their chamber-pressure is still really

> BE-4 engines from Blue Origin are fantastic Are they? Outside of being staged combustion they aren't that impressive. Their chamber-pressure is still really low. The TWR isn't that great. For a staged engine they are entry level. Their re-usability is theoretical at this point. The early engines the delivered to ULA are not the reusable version that will later go on New Glenn. > I see a real chance to be competitive with SpaceX long term. 'competitive' as in actually peer competition, not really. But I guess they can 'compete' by 'Jeff Bezos is gone finance the company for many 100s of million of $ every month' for the next decade.

deleted 3y ago
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dotnet00 3y ago
The reusability on BE-4 is not theoretical. Yes, the ones flown on Vulcan do not do relighting. However, we do know of engines BO has test fired where they have tested restart capability. https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1521204214084796416 https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1521204214084796416
- panick21_ 3y ago
  Many engines that are not reusable can be started multiple times. Actually having the certification that you can relaunch with the engine after you have done a reentry and landing is required.
  - dotnet00 3y ago
    That's a pretty convenient goalpost to move to. Raptor also is only theoretically reusable by that metric.
    - Teever 3y ago
      it's not goalpost shifting at all. BO doesn't have a reusable engine until they demonstrate that their engine is reusable.