Main Engine Cut Off

By the sounds of it, Blue Origin is late on something, and it may be pushing their engine test back a bit. I imagine that Aerojet Rocketdyne and the Congress members that are to thank for the AR1 are a little bit excited.

That’s a fine strategy for the here and now, but it isn’t a viable long-term strategy by any means. SpaceX isn’t the only one coming for Arianespace’s market share by way of reusability.

One of the programs that could be affected is the one funding development of the AR1, BE-4, and ACES. Blue Origin isn’t going to stop their work on the BE-4, because that’s paramount to their own ambitions, but the AR1 work could be hit hard.

There are a few obvious reasons the Air Force would go with a sole-source contract. This isn’t a big deal or a surprise, at all.

A good bit of insight into the changes going on over at ULA that I had not heard before. I still have concerns about the roadmap to get Vulcan up and operating, but there are clearly some good strides being taken to get there.

History will not be kind to the AR1 program. It’s a fairly expensive development program focused on building an American alternative to the RD-180, an engine used on a launch vehicle that will be phased out within 3-ish years of when the AR1 would be completed.

France says they’re interested in backing ISS until 2024. And they continue to hope reusability doesn’t work out so that Ariane 6 can be competitive.

Jalopnik posted a gearhead-focused feature on the Roush Fenway Racing-built internal combustion engine that will be used on ULA’s upcoming ACES upper stage.