Why Does Blue Origin's New Shepard Rocket Look Like That? An Engineering Perspective
0:04 Blue Origin's History: Founded by Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin has developed multiple rocket engines, culminating in the BE-4 engine for the New Glenn rocket. Currently, their only operational spacecraft is the New Shepard, used for suborbital flights.
0:30 New Shepard's Purpose: The New Shepard offers brief periods of weightlessness and views of Earth from high altitude. While considered by some to be just a "joyride," it provides a unique experience.
1:37 The Main Question: The video addresses the frequent question about New Shepard's resemblance to a phallic object. The video uses metaphors from "Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure" to discuss this sensitive topic.
2:20 Size and Shape: The rocket's diameter relative to its height, combined with the curved profile of the crew capsule, contributes significantly to its appearance. The capsule's shape prioritizes internal volume for the crew.
3:56 Escape System: The crew capsule incorporates a solid rocket motor for emergency aborts, strategically placed in the center. Control vanes in the nozzle likely provide steering during an abort.
5:21 Reaction Control System: Cold gas thrusters provide attitude control during ascent and descent, maintaining stability and allowing for panoramic views. The capsule can also be spun for lunar gravity experiments.
6:11 Landing System: Instead of large retro rockets, the New Shepard utilizes a ring of small thrusters around the capsule's base to cushion the landing. This design may also create a gas cushion beneath the spacecraft. A crush core ring absorbs excess landing force.
9:17 Original New Shepard: An earlier version of the New Shepard tested in 2011 used kerosene and hydrogen peroxide engines, along with bi-directional aerodynamic fins and a deployable drag brake for unpowered descent. This design was abandoned after NASA funded the development of the BE-3 hydrogen engine.
11:46 BE-3 Engine: This tap-off cycle hydrogen-oxygen engine is a significant advancement and is also intended for use on the New Glenn second stage.
13:13 Aerodynamic Stability: The distinct "ridge" around the upper section of the booster houses a ring fin that's crucial for aerodynamic stability during descent. This fin is occluded by the capsule during ascent. Additional fold-out fins and drag brakes aid in controlled descent.
17:23 Raceways: The "arteries and veins" running along the booster's shaft are raceways containing essential plumbing and wiring, contributing to the overall visual impression.
19:02 Conclusion: The video concludes by acknowledging the engineering ingenuity behind the New Shepard's design, while also acknowledging its suggestive shape.