Inside Blue Origin's Factory with Tim Dodd

Introduction

• Tim Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut, welcomes viewers to Cape Canaveral, Florida.
• Tour of Blue Origin's factory, focusing on the New Glenn rocket, one of the largest rockets ever made.
• Preview of part two, which includes a visit to the launch pad.
• Special guest: Jeff Bezos.

Meeting Jeff Bezos

• Tim meets Jeff Bezos, who reminisces about past experiences with rockets.
• Discussion about the scale of rockets and the clever design of New Glenn.

New Glenn Features

• New Glenn must be aerodynamically stable in both ascent and descent.
• Features include:
  • Ring fin for aerodynamics during ascent and descent.
  • Pop-up fins for reentry stability.
  • Drag brakes to manage terminal velocity.
  • Steering achieved through inertial navigation, measuring winds at high altitudes.

Manufacturing Process

Tanks and Welding

• The assembly of tanks includes:
  • LNG tank for the booster.
  • LOx tank with a common dome separating LNG and LOx.
  • Friction stir welding used for high-performance tank construction.
• Importance of reusability in manufacturing techniques.

Isogrid vs. Orthogrid

• Discussion on the differences between isogrid and orthogrid designs in tank construction.
• Orthogrid is preferred for cost efficiency in milled shapes and is easier to manipulate.

Inside the Hydrogen Tank

• Tour of the GS2 hydrogen tank.
• The installation of helium bottles within the hydrogen tank.
• Discussion of slosh baffles and the importance of liquid hydrogen management.

Second Stage and Engines

• Overview of the second stage (GS2) that will take Escapade to space.
• Features of the BE4 engines:
  • Designed for high performance and reusability.
  • Throttle capability and landing mechanisms discussed.

Engine Design and Performance

• Dual shaft, counter-rotating turbines for efficiency in the BE3U engine.
• Use of turbine exhaust for cooling the nozzle skirt.
• Comparison of chamber pressures and thermal properties between engine types.

Reusability and Economic Considerations

• Discussion about the balance between expendable and reusable stages.
• Aim for low-cost manufacturing to promote accessibility in space flight.
• Continuous improvement based on flight data and simulations.

Composite Manufacturing

• Overview of carbon fiber tape laying machines used for fairings and payload adapters.
• Importance of curing and non-destructive testing processes.

Conclusion

• Tim expresses gratitude to the Blue Origin team and Jeff Bezos for their time.
• Encouragement for viewers to subscribe for part two and support through Patreon and merchandise.
• Closing remarks by Tim Dodd.