Blue Origin, the Other Private Space Company Founded By An Internet Bazillionaire™, made news today as well:
NASA Commercial Crew Partner Blue Origin Completes Rocket Engine Thrust Chamber Test
NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) partner Blue Origin has successfully fired the thrust chamber assembly for its new 100,000 pound thrust BE-3 liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen rocket engine. As part of Blue’s Reusable Booster System (RBS), the engines are designed eventually to launch the biconic-shaped Space Vehicle the company is developing.
Successfully testing the thrust chamber for a 100,000 lbf rocket engine is not small potatoes.
Blue Origin didn’t get anything from the latest round of CCDev funding, but I’m not sure they were all that interested either. Jeff Bezos seems content to keep things going all on his own, and I have to admit to a bit of fanboy enthusiasm for these guys. Being an indie author, the opportunities he created through Amazon will always hold a special place in my heart for obvious reasons.
The Chiles Files 