In this image from video, the New Shepard capsule and booster lifts off from the company’s site in west Texas. Jeff Bezos’ rocket company launched NASA experiments into space on the brief test flight. (Blue Origin via AP)

In this image from video, the New Shepard capsule and booster lifts off from the company’s site in west Texas. Jeff Bezos’ rocket company launched NASA experiments into space on the brief test flight. (Blue Origin via AP)

Blue Origin begins construction of Alabama rocket-engine plant

The spaceship company owned by Jeff Bezos builds its initial rocket engines at its Kent headquarters.

By Dominic Gates / The Seattle Times

Jeff Bezos’ spaceship company Blue Origin broke ground Friday on a rocket-engine production facility in Huntsville, Alabama, that will cost more than $200 million and employ about 300 when it opens in March 2020.

The facility will build the BE-4 engine that Blue Origin expects to finish developing later this year. “It is currently rocking our test stands out in West Texas,” Blue Origin said in a news release.

Blue Origin designed and builds its initial rocket engines, the liquid hydrogen-fueled BE-3 engines, at its Kent headquarters. The BE-3 powers the company’s current New Shepard reusable launch rockets, which are designed for suborbital flights, including taking tourists into space.

The more powerful BE-4, fueled by liquefied natural gas, is intended to boost into orbit and beyond Blue Origin’s 313-feet-high New Glenn heavy-lift launch rockets now being developed.

Seven BE-4s, with a combined thrust of nearly 4 million pounds, will power the reusable first stage of New Glenn, which will be built in a new facility beside the launchpad at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

The upper stage rocket for New Glenn will be powered by a variant of the BE-3 engine, called BE-3U, that will also be built in Huntsville.

And two BE-4 engines will power the first stage of the Vulcan rocket being developed by United Launch Alliance (ULA), the Boeing/Lockheed Martin joint venture. The Vulcan rocket will be built at ULA’s manufacturing, assembly and integration facility just across the Tennessee River from Huntsville in nearby Decatur.

In October, the Air Force selected the New Glenn and Vulcan rockets for a contract to launch future national security missions into space. When those rockets are operational, the BE-4 engine will end the U.S.’ current dependency on using Russian RD-180 engines for critical national security launches.

Known as “Rocket City,” Huntsville has the highest ratio of engineers to residents in the U.S. and a low cost of living.

It’s been the center of U.S. rocket research ever since 1950, when the government set up a base there for Wernher von Braun and his team of former Nazi rocket scientists who had developed the V-2 rocket-powered missiles during World War II.

It’s also the home of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center as well as the U.S. Army’s Aviation and Missile Command and the Pentagon’s Missile Defense Agency, both at the Redstone Arsenal.

NASA’s Space Launch System program, the U.S.’s next-generation rocket to transport people and cargo to deep space, is based there.

Boeing has two major facilities in Huntsville, one developing missile-defense systems and the other a research and technology design center that supports multiple commercial-airplane programs and defense systems.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey called Blue Origin “a welcome addition to Alabama’s roster of world-class aerospace firms.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

Lily Lamoureux stacks Weebly Funko toys in preparation for Funko Friday at Funko Field in Everett on July 12, 2019.  Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Everett-based Funko ousts its CEO after 14 months

The company, known for its toy figures based on pop culture, named Michael Lunsford as its interim CEO.

The livery on a Boeing plane. (Christopher Pike / Bloomberg)
Former Lockheed Martin CFO joins Boeing as top financial officer

Boeing’s Chief Financial Officer is being replaced by a former CFO at… Continue reading

Izaac Escalante-Alvarez unpacks a new milling machine at the new Boeing machinists union’s apprentice training center on Friday, June 6, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Boeing Machinists union training center opens in Everett

The new center aims to give workers an inside track at Boeing jobs.

Some SnoCo stores see shortages after cyberattack on grocery supplier

Some stores, such as Whole Foods and US Foods CHEF’STORE, informed customers that some items may be temporarily unavailable.

People take photos and videos as the first Frontier Arlines flight arrives at Paine Field Airport under a water cannon salute on Monday, June 2, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Water cannons salute Frontier on its first day at Paine Field

Frontier Airlines joins Alaska Airlines in offering service Snohomish County passengers.

Amit B. Singh, president of Edmonds Community College. 201008
Edmonds College and schools continue diversity programs

Educational diversity programs are alive and well in Snohomish County.

A standard jet fuel, left, burns with extensive smoke output while a 50 percent SAF drop-in jet fuel, right, puts off less smoke during a demonstration of the difference in fuel emissions on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Sustainable aviation fuel center gets funding boost

A planned research and development center focused on sustainable aviation… Continue reading

Helion's 6th fusion prototype, Trenta, on display on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Helion celebrates smoother path to fusion energy site approval

Helion CEO applauds legislation signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson expected to streamline site selection process.

Pharmacist John Sontra and other employees work on calling customers to get their prescriptions transferred to other stores from the Bartell Drugs Pharmacy on Hoyt Avenue on Wednesday, July 2, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bartell Drugs location shutters doors in Everett

John Sontra, a pharmacist at the Hoyt Avenue address for 46 years, said Monday’s closure was emotional.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.