Which engine powers the New Shepard booster's vertical takeoff and landing (VTVL)?
Answer
The BE-3PM engine
The New Shepard vehicle, designed for suborbital tourism, relies on a booster equipped with a single BE-3PM engine for propulsion. This specific engine variant is engineered to generate approximately 490 kilonewtons of thrust during liftoff. Crucially, the engine design allows for significant throttling down capability, which is essential for executing the highly controlled vertical takeoff and landing (VTVL) maneuver back at the Texas launch site. This successful reusability of the booster, powered by the BE-3PM, represents the culmination of the suborbital vehicle's operational progression before transitioning to orbital ambitions.
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