WASHINGTON \u2014 Blue Origin on Thursday completed the first hot-fire test of its BE-4 engine, a huge milestone that could pave the way for its use aboard United Launch Alliance\u2019s new Vulcan rocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier this year, ULA head Tory Bruno told Defense News that the company \u2014 a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin \u2014 would be able to downselect between the BE-4 and Aerojet Rocketdyne\u2019s AR1 engine once hot-fire tests of the Blue Origin engine were complete. However, the company has not reached a decision yet, said a ULA spokeswoman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhile we are looking to make a downselect to one engine provider, it is an ongoing procurement and downselection, and we are not commenting at this time,\u201d she told Defense News on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blue Origin on Thursday tweeted out video of its first-ever hot-fire test of the BE-4 engine, which the company is developing to propel its own New Glenn rocket and potentially ULA\u2019s Vulcan. Blue had suffered a minor setback to testing in May, when it \u201clost a set of powerpack test hardware\u201d on a BE-4 test stand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement, ULA congratulated Blue Origin on the successful hot-fire test, calling it \u201ca tremendous accomplishment in the development of a new engine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The BE-4 is the largest rocket motor of its size to use methane as a propellant, which introduces the possibility of combustion instability, Bruno explained to Defense News in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ULA has leaned toward choosing the BE-4 for Vulcan due to its lower-than-expected cost and rapid development. But Aerojet has a longer history in engine manufacturing, and its AR1 is considered to be lower risk in part because it is fueled by kerosene and liquid oxygen, similar to the engine that powers ULA\u2019s Atlas V rocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\t