What precise mechanism does the New Shepard booster employ for returning to its Texas launch site after deployment?
Answer
Vertical takeoff and landing (VTVL)
The entire New Shepard vehicle system is engineered for complete reusability, and this is most evident in how the booster stage returns after releasing the passenger capsule. The booster utilizes a Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTVL) capability. After separating from the capsule near the edge of space, the booster autonomously fires its main engine, the BE-3PM, modulating its thrust to execute a soft, pinpoint landing back at its launch site in West Texas. This capability is a core demonstration of the step-by-step engineering progression that preceded the heavier orbital ambitions of New Glenn.
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