BE-3
A BE-3PM engine undergoing testing | |
| Country of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| First flight | April 29, 2015 |
| Designer | Blue Origin |
| Manufacturer | Blue Origin |
| Associated LV | New Shepard |
| Status | Active |
| Liquid-fuel engine | |
| Propellant | LOX / LH2 |
| Cycle | Pump‑fed combustion tap‑off |
| Performance | |
| Thrust, sea-level | 490 kN (110,156 lbf) |
| Throttle range | 18–100% |
| Country of origin | United States |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Blue Origin |
| Associated LV | New Glenn |
| Status | In production |
| Liquid-fuel engine | |
| Propellant | LOX / LH2 |
| Cycle | Expander |
| Configuration | |
| Chamber | 1 |
| Performance | |
| Thrust, vacuum |
|
| Throttle range | 75–100% |
| Thrust-to-weight ratio | 90:1 |
| Specific impulse, vacuum | 445 s (4.36 km/s) |
BE-3 (Blue Engine 3) is a cryogenic rocket engine using liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellants. Blue Origin began BE-3 development in the early 2010s and the engine completed acceptance testing in early 2015. The BE-3PM variant is used on the New Shepard suborbital rocket, which made its first test flight on April 29, 2015, and had its first crewed flight on July 20, 2021. The BE-3U variant is used on the second stage of the New Glenn orbital rocket, which made its inaugural flight on January 16, 2025.