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PROPULSIVE LANDING
New Shepard Landing System
Mass
800 kg
Dimensions
Integrated into booster (ring fin + 4 landing legs)
Material
Aluminum-lithium structure, steel landing legs
First Use
Nov 23, 2015
Usage Statistics
22
Successful Uses
95%
Success Rate
How It Works
Drag brakes and ring fin provide aerodynamic deceleration, then the BE-3 hydrogen engine relights for a powered vertical descent. Four deployable landing legs extend before touchdown on a concrete pad near the launch site.
Key Specifications
EngineBE-3 (hydrogen/LOX)
Landing thrust~490 kN
Drag brakes8 segments
First landingNovember 23, 2015
Compatible Vehicles
New Shepard
Details
The Blue Origin New Shepard booster uses a single BE-3 engine relight for propulsive vertical landing, guided by GPS and onboard sensors. The booster descends engine-first, relights the hydrogen-fueled BE-3 engine at approximately 1,200 meters altitude, and deploys a ring fin and drag brakes. The system has demonstrated consistent precision landings at the West Texas launch site.
External Links
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