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Commercial and US Government Launch Vehicles => Blue Origin => Topic started by: jacqmans on 06/28/2016 02:12 pm

Title: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: jacqmans on 06/28/2016 02:12 pm
We broke ground on our orbital vehicle manufacturing site in Florida.

The 750,000 square foot rocket factory is custom-built from the ground up to accommodate manufacturing, processing, integration and testing. Among other things, the facility hosts large scale friction stir welding and automated composite processing equipment. All of the vehicle will be manufactured in this facility except for the engines. Initial BE-4 engine production will occur at our Kent facility while we conduct a site selection process later this year for a larger engine production facility to accommodate higher production rates.

I’ve included some photos that will give you an idea of what the vehicle manufacturing facility will look like in December 2017 when it’s complete.

It’s exciting to see the bulldozers in action--we’re clearing the way for the production of a reusable fleet of orbital vehicles that we will launch and land, again and again.

Gradatim Ferociter!

 Jeff Bezos
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: KSC Sage on 06/28/2016 04:45 pm
The facility floor slab is planned to be competed by December of this year.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: jacqmans on 06/28/2016 06:16 pm
better resolution
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Orbiter on 06/28/2016 06:25 pm
Is that rendering of the three Blue Origin boosters in the 3rd image our first look at their orbital launch vehicle?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: LastStarFighter on 06/28/2016 06:46 pm
Is that rendering of the three Blue Origin boosters in the 3rd image our first look at their orbital launch vehicle?

Looks like it. So now we know they will use 3 engines on their "smallest" vehicle? Can't anyone estimate the booster size with based on the truck tires wheeling it out?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Bob Shaw on 06/28/2016 06:52 pm
I'll try to measure similar ones tomorrow.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Borklund on 06/28/2016 07:00 pm
Is that rendering of the three Blue Origin boosters in the 3rd image our first look at their orbital launch vehicle?
Could be a teaser/sneak peek, or could be artistic license.

If it's not just made up; three engines, possibly three core first stage?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Lars-J on 06/28/2016 07:52 pm
Is that rendering of the three Blue Origin boosters in the 3rd image our first look at their orbital launch vehicle?

Looks like it. So now we know they will use 3 engines on their "smallest" vehicle? Can't anyone estimate the booster size with based on the truck tires wheeling it out?

No need, really. We know the booster would be powered by BE-4.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: LastStarFighter on 06/28/2016 08:13 pm
Is that rendering of the three Blue Origin boosters in the 3rd image our first look at their orbital launch vehicle?

Looks like it. So now we know they will use 3 engines on their "smallest" vehicle? Can't anyone estimate the booster size with based on the truck tires wheeling it out?

No need, really. We know the booster would be powered by BE-4.

Sorry for the confusion. Obviously it'll be powered by the BE-4. They've stated that many times. But what size does that make the booster? Looks like 5m diameter and 30m long?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: catdlr on 06/28/2016 09:56 pm
according to public records as posted in Florida Today

Quote
Public records show Blue Origin’s main manufacturing facility will measure 725 feet long, 345 feet wide and 75 feet tall, with a “super high bay” rising 82 feet. KSC Director Bob Cabana recently compared the factory's footprint to that of NASA's 52-story Vehicle Assembly Building.

And Blue Origin's Exploration Park plans leave room for an additional 150,000 square-foot manufacturing building and 50,000 square-foot processing facility that could be added later.

source: http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2016/06/03/blue-origin-clearing-land-massive-rocket-factory/85198336/
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: catdlr on 06/28/2016 10:03 pm
better resolution

Geo tag for this picture and site for the factory:

Geotag (https://www.google.com/maps/place/Space+Commerce+Way,+Merritt+Island,+FL+32953/@28.5122017,-80.6786574,2436a,20y,270h/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e0ae4bfd03718d:0x1bcb2a2f995f26ef!8m2!3d28.5151568!4d-80.6829487)

Edit/Lar: Fix long link
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Kabloona on 06/30/2016 08:09 pm
Is that rendering of the three Blue Origin boosters in the 3rd image our first look at their orbital launch vehicle?

Looks like it. So now we know they will use 3 engines on their "smallest" vehicle? Can't anyone estimate the booster size with based on the truck tires wheeling it out?

No need, really. We know the booster would be powered by BE-4.

Sorry for the confusion. Obviously it'll be powered by the BE-4. They've stated that many times. But what size does that make the booster? Looks like 5m diameter and 30m long?

Using the reported 82-foot height for the "super high bay", I get a booster length of about 70 ft and diameter of about 15 ft.

For comparison, the image below was the "first look" at Blue's orbital vehicle from last September. The fineness ratio looks correct, whereas the fineness ratio of the booster shown in the facility rendering above is consistent with a New Shepard model that the artist scaled up and tweaked for convenience, too short to be a real first stage, so I wouldn't put much stock in it.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Bob Shaw on 06/30/2016 09:05 pm
I measured transporter wheels today - there are two sizes, but I left my notes at work so won't burden the numerologists among us with wrong figures - tomorrow will have to do!
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Bob Shaw on 06/30/2016 09:08 pm
Using the reported 82-foot height for the "super high bay", I get a booster length of about 70 ft and diameter of about 15 ft.

For comparison, the image below was the "first look" at Blue's orbital vehicle from last September. The fineness ratio looks correct, whereas the fineness ratio of the booster shown in the facility rendering above is consistent with a New Shepard model that the artist scaled up and tweaked for convenience, too short to be a real first stage, so I wouldn't put much stock in it.

Could it be just the H2 tank and motors? An unseen section with another 25% for LO2 and interstage would seem to be about the correct proportions.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Kabloona on 06/30/2016 09:21 pm
Using the reported 82-foot height for the "super high bay", I get a booster length of about 70 ft and diameter of about 15 ft.

For comparison, the image below was the "first look" at Blue's orbital vehicle from last September. The fineness ratio looks correct, whereas the fineness ratio of the booster shown in the facility rendering above is consistent with a New Shepard model that the artist scaled up and tweaked for convenience, too short to be a real first stage, so I wouldn't put much stock in it.

Could it be just the H2 tank and motors? An unseen section with another 25% for LO2 and interstage would seem to be about the correct proportions.

I doubt it, as you wouldn't have a relatively finished booster with engines attached but missing one of its tanks, and why would the artist render only half a stage?

This press release is all about the facility, with other bits stuck on around it. IMO, the booster rendering is a bit of artistic license pasted on for effect. Unlike the rendering Bezos showed, which makes sense proportionally.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: MarekCyzio on 07/05/2016 05:07 pm
Progress as of July 1.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: QuantumG on 07/05/2016 10:54 pm
Ewww.. they've building it with Haskell?  :-X  8)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: jabe on 07/05/2016 11:27 pm
Ewww.. they've building it with Haskell?  :-X 8)
mmm why the "dislike"?  edit:ok..did a search..I think i get it :)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Nilof on 07/06/2016 10:26 am
Ewww.. they've building it with Haskell?  :-X  8)

I think what you mean is: "Yay, they are building it with Haskell!  ;D  8)".
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: CyndyC on 07/14/2016 08:04 pm
Ewww.. they've building it with Haskell?  :-X 8)
mmm why the "dislike"?  edit:ok..did a search..I think i get it :)

I'm curious too, and a search wouldn't tell me why. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville where I grew up and now live. Their contract history as reported by our business journal has been quite impressive. The founder Preston Haskell has been a generous benefactor to many important causes locally, and it happens my brother's brother-in-law is their lead architect, a very intelligent and nice man whom I think you actually would like QuantumG.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Lar on 07/14/2016 08:20 pm
Ewww.. they've building it with Haskell?  :-X 8)
mmm why the "dislike"?  edit:ok..did a search..I think i get it :)

I'm curious too, and a search wouldn't tell me why. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville where I grew up and now live. Their contract history as reported by our business journal has been quite impressive. The founder Preston Haskell has been a generous benefactor to many important causes locally, and it happens my brother's brother-in-law is their lead architect, a very intelligent and nice man whom I think you actually would like QuantumG.
Pretty sure it's a programmer's joke...

Haskell is a programming language that you either have never heard of, love, or hate. There are no other possibilities.

(It's functional, strongly typed, non strict semantically, but with lazy evaluation...  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haskell_(programming_language) for more )
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: russianhalo117 on 07/14/2016 08:28 pm
Ewww.. they've building it with Haskell?  :-X 8)
mmm why the "dislike"?  edit:ok..did a search..I think i get it :)

I'm curious too, and a search wouldn't tell me why. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville where I grew up and now live. Their contract history as reported by our business journal has been quite impressive. The founder Preston Haskell has been a generous benefactor to many important causes locally, and it happens my brother's brother-in-law is their lead architect, a very intelligent and nice man whom I think you actually would like QuantumG.
Pretty sure it's a programmer's joke...

Haskell is a programming language that you either have never heard of, love, or hate. There are no other possibilities.

(It's functional, strongly typed, non strict semantically, but with lazy evaluation...  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haskell_(programming_language) for more )
We have Cobalt Construction in the primary city that I live in. Im not sure that those two would work well together
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: e of pi on 07/18/2016 04:03 pm
I'm curious too, and a search wouldn't tell me why. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville where I grew up and now live. Their contract history as reported by our business journal has been quite impressive. The founder Preston Haskell has been a generous benefactor to many important causes locally, and it happens my brother's brother-in-law is their lead architect, a very intelligent and nice man whom I think you actually would like QuantumG.
It's a somewhat obscure programming joke, not a critique of the construction company of the same name who are actually involved here. Haskell is also the name of a rather particular programming language (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haskell_(programming_language)), and discussions of the type "Eww, you're using X language for Y application?" are a standby of programming forums.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Nilof on 07/31/2016 09:44 pm
I'm curious too, and a search wouldn't tell me why. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville where I grew up and now live. Their contract history as reported by our business journal has been quite impressive. The founder Preston Haskell has been a generous benefactor to many important causes locally, and it happens my brother's brother-in-law is their lead architect, a very intelligent and nice man whom I think you actually would like QuantumG.
It's a somewhat obscure programming joke, not a critique of the construction company of the same name who are actually involved here. Haskell is also the name of a rather particular programming language (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haskell_(programming_language)), and discussions of the type "Eww, you're using X language for Y application?" are a standby of programming forums.
If anyone is curious about how Haskell is "different", here's a side by side comparison of a simple fibonacci function.

Typical short Python implementation:
Quote
def fib(n):
 a,b = 1,1
 for i in range(n-1):
  a,b = b,a+b
 return a

Typical short Haskell implementation:
Quote
fibs = 0 : 1 : zipWith (+) fibs (tail fibs)
fib n = fibs !! n

The imperative python program just iterates on values up to the result with a for loop. The Haskell program on the other hand creates a recursive definition of an infinite list of all fibonacci numbers, and evaluates the n'th element of that list. Incidentally it is also much faster, though this isn't really a fair comparison.

In short, the idea space is completely different, in a strongly polarizing way that people will either love or hate.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: russianhalo117 on 07/31/2016 10:09 pm
I'm curious too, and a search wouldn't tell me why. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville where I grew up and now live. Their contract history as reported by our business journal has been quite impressive. The founder Preston Haskell has been a generous benefactor to many important causes locally, and it happens my brother's brother-in-law is their lead architect, a very intelligent and nice man whom I think you actually would like QuantumG.
It's a somewhat obscure programming joke, not a critique of the construction company of the same name who are actually involved here. Haskell is also the name of a rather particular programming language (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haskell_(programming_language)), and discussions of the type "Eww, you're using X language for Y application?" are a standby of programming forums.
If anyone is curious about how Haskell is "different", here's a side by side comparison of a simple fibonacci function.

Typical short Python implementation:
Quote
def fib(n):
 a,b = 1,1
 for i in range(n-1):
  a,b = b,a+b
 return a

Typical short Haskell implementation:
Quote
fibs = 0 : 1 : zipWith (+) fibs (tail fibs)
fib n = fibs !! n

The imperative python program just iterates on values up to the result with a for loop. The Haskell program on the other hand creates a recursive definition of an infinite list of all fibonacci numbers, and evaluates the n'th element of that list. Incidentally it is also much faster, though this isn't really a fair comparison.

It does this by using a higher order function "zipWith" to map a familiar function "(+)" to one that you need: the function "zipWith (+)" which does element wise addition on lists. This way of constructing the functions you need by passing functions as input to other functions to mutate them is key to the Haskell way of doing things.

In short, the idea space is completely different, in a strongly polarizing way that people will either love or hate.
We are all going to all get so slammed for this important off-topic-ness when this thread takes off in a couple of years as its importance arises.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Lar on 08/01/2016 02:57 am
Obscure programming languages seem VERY closely related to Blue Origin manufacturing facilities in Florida.

Oh wait...
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Lar on 08/01/2016 03:02 pm
Obscure programming languages seem VERY closely related to Blue Origin manufacturing facilities in Florida.

Oh wait...

Feel free to actually moderate the thread.


I try warnings first. If that doesn't work, moderation follows. By the way, I deleted your post since it's meta.. :)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Kryten on 08/26/2016 03:59 pm
Quote
Space Florida ‏@SpaceFlorida  3m3 minutes ago
This morning, crews began pouring concrete for @blueorigin  first building at its vehicle manufacturing campus
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Danderman on 08/29/2016 03:14 am
The takeaway from this is the development of commercial space means that the days of reliance on government space are ending - commercial space is more sustainable and less subject to the whims of politicians.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Kabloona on 08/29/2016 03:29 am
The takeaway from this is the development of commercial space means that the days of reliance on government space are ending - commercial space is more sustainable and less subject to the whims of politicians.

Finally the engineers (Bezos) and physicists (Musk) are in charge again. It only took what, 90 years (since Goddard), but now the engineers and physicists are a lot wealthier. Thank you, Internet!
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: QuantumG on 08/29/2016 11:12 am
Ha! The engineers, physicists and other geeks have been in charge many times before. The difference with Bezos and Musk is that they can actually manage a company.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Kabloona on 08/30/2016 03:33 am
Ha! The engineers, physicists and other geeks have been in charge many times before. The difference with Bezos and Musk is that they can actually manage a company.

David W. Thompson (engineer) did pretty well starting Orbital from nothing with two other guys and building it into a big company, but unlike Musk and Bezos they didn't have their own billions to play with.

Even so, I'll readily agree most engineers, physicists and other geeks aren't good managers. We're fortunate to be around to see Musk and Bezos do their thing.

Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Space Ghost 1962 on 08/30/2016 04:20 am
Ha! The engineers, physicists and other geeks have been in charge many times before. The difference with Bezos and Musk is that they can actually manage a company.

David W. Thompson (engineer) did pretty well starting Orbital from nothing with two other guys and building it into a big company, but unlike Musk and Bezos they didn't have their own billions to play with.

Even so, I'll readily agree most engineers, physicists and other geeks aren't good managers. We're fortunate to be around to see Musk and Bezos do their thing.
They all have weaknesses.

Musk learned/learns the hard way. He's also physics trained. Bezos is in some ways too smart. They both tend to overreach. Both are surrounded by interesting people that buffer the excesses.

OA has a tremendous amount of pragmatism and as a business is very diversified. But not a push the envelope kind.

As to "good managers", depends on culture. No way you can compare them "apples to apples" - Musk wouldn't be tolerated in OA's culture, Thompson wouldn't even be functional at SX.

You also have to add in to the Musk advantage having been from Silicon Valley and understanding financials / business models / financial structures - you're used to "reprogramming" an industry to begin with. Most space entrepreneurs I've met are really bad in this area, and they think that making it look like a traditional aerospace firm that some home that is a good idea. They had no clue that they were dooming themselves by getting caught in the swampland this way - they thought it was "good enough" and they'd turn their attention to tech/engineering execution that they though mattered more.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Kabloona on 08/30/2016 02:08 pm
Quote
As to "good managers", depends on culture. No way you can compare them "apples to apples" - Musk wouldn't be tolerated in OA's culture, Thompson wouldn't even be functional at SX.

Funny how times change. Thirty-six years ago, Thompson and his band of "space nuts" (per the infamous Wall Street Journal article) were the "new space" kids on the block that many people expected to fail, not unlike the early days of SpaceX. The culture was much different from NASA/traditional aerospace, and at the time those guys and the engineers they hired would have fit right in at SpaceX. But because NASA was their customer on TOS, and to a lesser extent on Taurus and Pegasus, over time they had to adapt and become more traditional.

Now SpaceX is setting a new standard in design, manufacturing, systems engineering, vertical integration, etc. In less than thirty years, they'll be the new "traditional," and we'll be looking for the next Elon Musk.

Sorry for the digresssion; back to Blue Origin in Florida.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: CyndyC on 08/30/2016 08:22 pm
Quote
Finally the engineers (Bezos) and physicists (Musk) are in charge again.

All fascinating insights surrounding Blue Origin's origins, except I see Jeff Bezos as a really, really smart librarian, not an engineer, and in an interview with Elon Musk, he once described himself as "basically an engineer," not a physicist.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Kabloona on 08/30/2016 09:27 pm
Quote
All fascinating insights surrounding Blue Origin's origins, except I see Jeff Bezos as a really, really smart librarian, not an engineer...

It's funny, he was an EECS major while I was an MAE (mechanical and aerospace engineering) major in the same class, but I never ran into him around the Equad because EECS was in a different part of the building.

Anyway, good for all of us that he's putting his engineering degree to use instead of just selling books. ;-)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: CyndyC on 08/30/2016 09:49 pm
Quote
All fascinating insights surrounding Blue Origin's origins, except I see Jeff Bezos as a really, really smart librarian, not an engineer...

It's funny, he was an EECS major while I was an MAE (mechanical and aerospace engineering) major in the same class, but I never ran into him around the Equad because EECS was in a different part of the building.

Anyway, good for all of us that he's putting his engineering degree to use instead of just selling books. ;-)

No kidding, that's interesting! It's still easier to see that you're an engineer, however. I've sometimes wondered if men have been under family & social pressure to become engineers regardless of their true personalities, similar to the way women have been under family & social pressure for decades to become secretaries, school teachers, & nurses. 
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Robotbeat on 08/31/2016 01:19 am
Quote
Finally the engineers (Bezos) and physicists (Musk) are in charge again.

All fascinating insights surrounding Blue Origin's origins, except I see Jeff Bezos as a really, really smart librarian, not an engineer, and in an interview with Elon Musk, he once described himself as "basically an engineer," not a physicist.
Musk is, in fact, a physicist by training. He does the work of an engineer, of course, but the training is different enough that you come at problems in a very different manner.

For instance, that annoying habit of his where he points out the limit of what he thinks is possible, not the "most achievable" middle. You have to establish limits. That's a physicist thing.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: QuantumG on 08/31/2016 03:41 am
Musk is, in fact, a physicist by training.

From what I've heard of his college days, he's a beer drinker by training (aka an engineer.)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: russianhalo117 on 08/31/2016 02:16 pm
Stay on topic guys. The topic here is solely the Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: bad_astra on 09/05/2016 08:17 pm
Quote
OA has a tremendous amount of pragmatism and as a business is very diversified. But not a push the envelope kind.

Not to derail, but that must be answered. Orbital pushed every bit of the envelope there was to get started and keep running. History is littered with well meant attempts like Conestoga, Kelly, Pioneer, RRC, and Kistler that did not make it, but OSC did, and they didn't have a bazillionaire helping them do it, which also doesn't guarantee success (Beale). There was nothing conservative about an air launched booster with winglets. I think they still have enough of that spirit to stay competitive. They paved the way for the newer space companies.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Prober on 09/13/2016 07:22 pm
good info on Space Florida master plan


http://www.spaceflorida.gov/docs/spaceport-ops/reduced-version_cape-canaveral-spaceport-complex-master-plan-2013.pdf?sfvrsn=2
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Zond on 11/01/2016 08:41 pm
The frame of the first building has been erected. This is probably the manufacturing annex.

http://spaceksc.blogspot.be/2016/10/blues-origin.html (http://spaceksc.blogspot.be/2016/10/blues-origin.html)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Comet on 11/01/2016 09:46 pm
Great pace! last month I was there....and this is what I saw:
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Llian Rhydderch on 11/05/2016 02:56 am
The frame of the first building has been erected. This is probably the manufacturing annex.

http://spaceksc.blogspot.be/2016/10/blues-origin.html (http://spaceksc.blogspot.be/2016/10/blues-origin.html)

The photos from the SpaceKSC blog are not loading for me.  Does anyone else have them? 

(Steven gives permission for re-publishing if he as the source is acknowledged.)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: eriblo on 11/05/2016 03:29 pm
The frame of the first building has been erected. This is probably the manufacturing annex.

http://spaceksc.blogspot.be/2016/10/blues-origin.html (http://spaceksc.blogspot.be/2016/10/blues-origin.html)

The photos from the SpaceKSC blog are not loading for me.  Does anyone else have them? 

(Steven gives permission for re-publishing if he as the source is acknowledged.)
The hosting site (photobucket) was down for maintenance, should work now.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: testguy on 12/05/2016 01:56 pm
I would really like to see current photos of the construction site.  Can anyone provide them please?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 12/06/2016 01:11 pm
I would really like to see current photos of the construction site.  Can anyone provide them please?

Attached has been tweeted by Jeff Foust (and others):

Quote
Jeff Foust ‏@jeff_foust 3m3 minutes ago

Jeff Bezos sends along a photo showing progress on Blue Origin’s Florida factory for building New Glenn rockets. Completion by end 2017.

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/806138139463086081 (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/806138139463086081)

Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: testguy on 12/06/2016 02:09 pm
Thank you.  Very impressive!
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 12/06/2016 05:55 pm
A couple of more photos:

Quote
Alicia (SpaceGal) ‏@murphypak 3h3 hours ago

@ClayMowry @NASASpaceflight took these yesterday #BlueOrigin
https://twitter.com/murphypak/status/806159457327661056 (https://twitter.com/murphypak/status/806159457327661056)

Quote
Alicia (SpaceGal) ‏@murphypak 3h3 hours ago

@ClayMowry @NASASpaceflight this is other building #blueorigin
https://twitter.com/murphypak/status/806159686739382274 (https://twitter.com/murphypak/status/806159686739382274)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: sanman on 12/07/2016 02:51 am
Blue Origin rocket plant taking shape on Space Coast

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/go-for-launch/os-blue-origin-rocket-plant-20161206-story.html
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: TrevorMonty on 12/07/2016 10:00 am
The sizing of these buildings, especially entrances may give a clue to size of New Armstrong. Unless they plan for a whole new facility for NA.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: MarekCyzio on 01/28/2017 01:18 pm
Today
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Rocket Science on 01/28/2017 01:46 pm
Today
Great to see new space-related construction against a beautiful blue sky especially from sitting under a gloomy-grey one today in the NE.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 01/28/2017 05:25 pm
Snap!  :)

Quote
Can't wait to build some giant rockets here!

https://twitter.com/malderi/status/825369933680877568 (https://twitter.com/malderi/status/825369933680877568)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 02/04/2017 05:43 am
Quote
@NASASpaceflight Blue Origin lots of progress

https://twitter.com/murphypak/status/827692339611201536 (https://twitter.com/murphypak/status/827692339611201536)

Edit: added wider shot from subsequent tweet
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 02/08/2017 07:12 pm
Quote
Scott Henderson, Blue Origin: our manufacturing facility at Cape Canaveral set to be ready for occupancy by December. #CST2017

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/829420457753509892 (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/829420457753509892)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: KSC Sage on 02/10/2017 07:11 pm
Quote
Scott Henderson, Blue Origin: our manufacturing facility at Cape Canaveral set to be ready for occupancy by December. #CST2017

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/829420457753509892 (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/829420457753509892)

A second office facility is planned to be built at SLC-36.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Star One on 02/10/2017 07:29 pm
Blue Origin Prepares to Build Its Florida Rocket Launch Complex

Jeff Bezos' private space company is eyeing 2020 to begin flights of the orbital New Glenn rocket.

http://www.seeker.com/blue-origin-jeff-bezos-florida-launches-orbit-2252396999.html
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 02/18/2017 06:07 pm
Quote
Swung by the @blueorigin factory under construction just outside the KSC gates. It’s taking shape, and it’s big.

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/833014535523033089 (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/833014535523033089)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: oliversl on 02/22/2017 11:54 pm
Photos from this Sunday Feb 22, 2017 after SpaceX CRS10 launch.

Google Maps link (https://www.google.com/maps/place/28%C2%B030'48.9%22N+80%C2%B040'37.2%22W/@28.513587,-80.6786515,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d28.513587!4d-80.67699?hl=en)

imgur mirror: http://imgur.com/a/MMaNn
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 02/25/2017 06:01 pm
Quote
Walls are going up #BlueOrigin

https://twitter.com/murphypak/status/835564327478378496 (https://twitter.com/murphypak/status/835564327478378496)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: kendalla59 on 03/07/2017 10:39 pm
I had a chance to visit KSC last week, and the Blue Origin building was right there on the road to the visitor's center. That was a very cool, and unexpected, thing to see. The bus ride also took me past 39A and 39B. There is a lot of excitement on the space coast these days.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: gospacex on 03/07/2017 10:52 pm
The takeaway from this is the development of commercial space means that the days of reliance on government space are ending - commercial space is more sustainable and less subject to the whims of politicians.

Finally the engineers (Bezos) and physicists (Musk) are in charge again. It only took what, 90 years (since Goddard), but now the engineers and physicists are a lot wealthier. Thank you, Internet!

Mike Griffin is an engineer too. Yet, *he* gave us Constellation/SLS. A large organization has its own survival logic, and logic overrides, it mysteriously trumps everything else, even sound engineering or financial considerations, even when many people inside it understand that it is wrong. Even if the leadership, by all indications, should be capable of understanding that it is wrong.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: meberbs on 03/08/2017 05:25 am
The spaceflight now article on Bezo's announcement includes an interesting tidbit I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere:

Quote
The New Glenn’s primary base will be at Cape Canaveral, where Blue Origin is constructing a cavernous rocket factory just outside the gates of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Blue Origin has started preliminary earthmoving work for a launch pad at Complex 36, a former Atlas rocket facility at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and plans to install an engine test stand at neighboring Complex 11.
Emphasis mine.

This sounds like they have started some work on the pad site itself, since they are well past earth moving on the production facility. It would be interesting to see what exactly they are doing at the pad. Also, if they have started earth moving, it presumably means that they have also gotten some environmental construction permits, which might have interesting info in them if someone knows where the database is to look them up.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: catdlr on 03/19/2017 12:42 pm
Blue Origin Factory | March 18 2017

Updated 3/21/1027: YouTube video has been removed by the user.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Eer on 03/19/2017 01:06 pm
Blue Origin Factory | March 18 2017
... removed link to youtube...

I'm trying to imagine the site facility management weekly status meeting after this was published this weekend.  So much for perimeter control.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: matthewkantar on 03/19/2017 03:18 pm
Wow. Hope nobody has to see a judge for trespassing. I watched this fairly carefully, figure I might as well before it gets taken down. I don't see an area big enough to assemble a New Glenn in there, or a bunch of them.

Matthew

Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 03/19/2017 03:34 pm
Yes there do appear to be quite a lot of internal supports and small spans. However, when the video goes around the back I think the rear portion of the building may be more open. Clearly they will have room for NG somewhere! Time will tell where that is.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: meberbs on 03/19/2017 04:00 pm
Yes there do appear to be quite a lot of internal supports and small spans. However, when the video goes around the back I think the rear portion of the building may be more open. Clearly they will have room for NG somewhere! Time will tell where that is.
There is plenty of room for New Glenn if you compare the current video to the original renderings. I attached a screenshot from the video where they drove around back. You can see buildings on the left and right with a big empty space in between.

The original renderings show the large hanger as sandwiched between the 2 buildings. If you click to enlarge the first picture in this post, (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40620.msg1645998#msg1645998) you can see the taller supports on the one side of the building that will be for the central hangar. (This view is from the exact opposite side as the screenshot I attached.)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Navier–Stokes on 03/19/2017 04:05 pm
Yes there do appear to be quite a lot of internal supports and small spans. However, when the video goes around the back I think the rear portion of the building may be more open. Clearly they will have room for NG somewhere! Time will tell where that is.
There is plenty of room for New Glenn if you compare the current video to the original renderings. I attached a screenshot from the video where they drove around back. You can see buildings on the left and right with a big empty space in between.

The original renderings show the large hanger as sandwiched between the 2 buildings. If you click to enlarge the first picture in this post, (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40620.msg1645998#msg1645998) you can see the taller supports on the one side of the building that will be for the central hangar. (This view is from the exact opposite side as the screenshot I attached.)

For reference, here is the facility as rendered in the New Glenn video (screencap courtesy of Ars Technica (https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/03/blue-origin-releases-details-of-its-monster-orbital-rocket/)).
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: matthewkantar on 03/19/2017 04:11 pm
Got it. Also wondered why there was crane track only on one side. Thought I was looking at two buildings,  not one very large one. Nice.

Matthew.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Comga on 03/19/2017 04:39 pm
Yes there do appear to be quite a lot of internal supports and small spans. However, when the video goes around the back I think the rear portion of the building may be more open. Clearly they will have room for NG somewhere! Time will tell where that is.

I saw this construction site on the same weekend (albeit from the road during daytime) and the parts already up are NOT going to be the biggest or tallest parts, according to architectural sketches we have seen.  Those will be in the middle, to the right of what is standing, as seen from the road. 

edit:  That screen capture looks to be rotated about ninety degrees counterclockwise from the sketches.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 04/05/2017 05:44 pm
Quote
.@NASAKennedy's Bob Cabana shows @blueorigin rocket factory taking shape during #33SS panel. #SpaceSymposium

https://twitter.com/b0yle/status/849668537320968192 (https://twitter.com/b0yle/status/849668537320968192)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: jacqmans on 04/06/2017 08:43 am
Construction is progressing on Blue Origin's 750,000-square-foot facility being built at Exploration Park on NASA Kennedy Space Center property in Florida. Blue Origin will use the factory to manufacture its two-stage super-heavy-lift New Glenn launch vehicle and launch the vehicles from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Photo credit: Blue Origin
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Navier–Stokes on 04/11/2017 12:55 am
Imgur album (https://imgur.com/a/1xfZZl) with some good pictures from today, courtesy of aftersteveo on r/BlueOrigin (https://www.reddit.com/r/BlueOrigin/comments/64mtqd/pictures_of_blue_origins_facility_at_ksc_taken/).
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Beittil on 05/29/2017 09:49 pm
A very good friend of mine is on vacation with his wife in Florida this week and I gave the poor fellah some homework on his KSC day ;)

Thought you guys might enjoy my assignment to him :) Picture's are from today, no more then 2 hours before time of post.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 06/06/2017 06:49 am
Quote
Worker recovering from fall at Blue Origin rocket factory

James Dean | FLORIDA TODAY
Updated 11 hours ago
An electrician is recovering from a more than 20-foot fall that forced a pause in construction late last month of Blue Origin’s rocket factory at Kennedy Space Center’s Exploration Park on Merritt Island.

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/06/04/worker-recovering-fall-blue-origin-rocket-factory/368918001/ (http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/06/04/worker-recovering-fall-blue-origin-rocket-factory/368918001/)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 07/03/2017 03:51 pm
Quote
At Cape Canaveral, @JeffBezos' @blueorigin has made incredible progress on their orbital rocket factory. Shot with my wheel man @JRouRouRou

https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/881901592374587394 (https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/881901592374587394)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Navier–Stokes on 07/20/2017 05:43 pm
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWxp6MjgTrP/
Quote
jeffbezos Manufacturing facility for the heavy-lift New Glenn launch vehicle is coming along nicely. #BlueOrigin #ReusableRockets #LaunchLandRepeat #GradatimFerociter
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Navier–Stokes on 07/20/2017 05:47 pm
Picture courtesy of u/robilldt on r/BlueOrigin (https://www.reddit.com/r/BlueOrigin/comments/6og7tb/starting_to_take_shape/).
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: sanman on 07/21/2017 04:38 am
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWxp6MjgTrP/
Quote
jeffbezos Manufacturing facility for the heavy-lift New Glenn launch vehicle is coming along nicely. #BlueOrigin #ReusableRockets #LaunchLandRepeat #GradatimFerociter

Here's the Youtube version of that for quick viewing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5UH1G5MWe8
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 07/31/2017 05:53 pm
https://youtu.be/gSpg-wy7lfs (https://youtu.be/gSpg-wy7lfs)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Navier–Stokes on 08/10/2017 03:41 am
Quote from: https://twitter.com/SpaceBrendan/status/895393763731922945
Brendan Byrne‏ @SpaceBrendan

. @SenBillNelson says @blueorigin rocket manufacturing facility on target for Dec 20 opening.

5:18 PM - 9 Aug 2017
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 08/10/2017 04:06 am
Here's a wider shot: https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/895371657732378625 (https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/895371657732378625)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 09/02/2017 05:12 pm
Quote
I spy with my @blueorigin eye ...

https://twitter.com/wordsmithfl/status/904015653929136129
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 09/12/2017 09:06 am
Quote
Peter B. de Selding‏ @pbdes 6m6 minutes ago

Clay Mowry of @blueorigin on hurricane prep at Cape Canaveral rocket plant, nearing completion: 'We put a lot of sandbags around it.' All OK

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/907528988838518785 (https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/907528988838518785)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 09/12/2017 04:24 pm
Quote
Stephen C. Smith‏ @WordsmithFL 8m8 minutes ago

The @blueorigin construction site didn't have any obvious significant damage.

https://twitter.com/WordsmithFL/status/907638508973694976 (https://twitter.com/WordsmithFL/status/907638508973694976)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 09/18/2017 06:04 pm
Some more nice shots:

Quote
For the curious: @BlueOrigin's KSC factory after #HurricaneIrma. Looks OK. Can see inside the massive hangar if coming from the north.

https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/909832900681584640
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: jacqmans on 09/20/2017 12:48 pm
The Blue Origin construction site at Exploration Park is seen during an aerial survey of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on September 12, 2017. The survey was performed to identify structures and facilities that may have sustained damage from Hurricane Irma as the storm passed Kennedy on September 10, 2017. NASA closed the center ahead of the storm’s onset and only a small team of specialists known as the Rideout Team was on the center as the storm approached and passed. Photo credit: NASA/Bill White
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: testguy on 09/20/2017 02:45 pm
great news.  I was concerned since structures under construction would seem to be more vulnerable.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 10/15/2017 08:11 pm
Quote
The name is Origin.  Blue Origin.

The name is now on the @blueorigin factory at @NASAKennedy.

https://twitter.com/wordsmithfl/status/919654963097239553
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Kryten on 10/16/2017 11:58 am
https://www.spaceintelreport.com/blue-origin-looking-satellite-customer-1st-new-glenn-flight-nice-pricing/
Article says that Blue have started to build NG structures in Florida, so the factory is at least partially operational now.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: SmallKing on 10/16/2017 01:11 pm
https://www.spaceintelreport.com/blue-origin-looking-satellite-customer-1st-new-glenn-flight-nice-pricing/
Article says that Blue have started to build NG structures in Florida, so the factory is at least partially operational now.
The article says they want to carry a customer's payload on the first flight of NG. That's really crazy
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Welsh Dragon on 10/16/2017 03:25 pm
Why? Atlas V and Delta IV did. Presumably that customer is going to get a healthy discount.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Steven Pietrobon on 10/17/2017 06:57 am
Why? Atlas V and Delta IV did. Presumably that customer is going to get a healthy discount.

The customers for the first flight of Ariane V, Delta III, Delta IVH, PSLV, Falcon I, Conestoga, N-1, Europa, Athena 1, Antares 130, SPARK, SS-520-4, Electron, FB-1, CZ-2A, CZ-3, CZ-2E/PKM, CZ-1D, CZ-3B, KT-1, KZ-1T, etc. were not so lucky. Blue Origin should accept some hubris and accept the fact that their first launch will have a high probability of failure and thus should not fly a customers payload.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: woods170 on 10/17/2017 09:02 am
Why? Atlas V and Delta IV did. Presumably that customer is going to get a healthy discount.

The customers for the first flight of Ariane V, Delta III, Delta IVH, PSLV, Falcon I, Conestoga, N-1, Europa, Athena 1, Antares 130, SPARK, SS-520-4, Electron, FB-1, CZ-2A, CZ-3, CZ-2E/PKM, CZ-1D, CZ-3B, KT-1, KZ-1T, etc. were not so lucky. Blue Origin should accept some hubris and accept the fact that their first launch will have a high probability of failure and thus should not fly a customers payload.
Agreed. And you can add first flights of Ariane 5 ECA, GSLV, Naro-1 and Proton-K/Briz-M to that list.

Blue Origin should be particularly wary of flying a customer payload on their first mission given that it will also be the first time they try to achieve orbit. The recent Electron failure should give them something to think about, not to mention what happened to the first three launches of Falcon 1.

IMO putting a customer payload on the very first mission of New Glenn is an incredible risk. Downright foolish.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Welsh Dragon on 10/17/2017 09:24 am
Why? Atlas V and Delta IV did. Presumably that customer is going to get a healthy discount.

The customers for the first flight of Ariane V, Delta III, Delta IVH, PSLV, Falcon I, Conestoga, N-1, Europa, Athena 1, Antares 130, SPARK, SS-520-4, Electron, FB-1, CZ-2A, CZ-3, CZ-2E/PKM, CZ-1D, CZ-3B, KT-1, KZ-1T, etc. were not so lucky. Blue Origin should accept some hubris and accept the fact that their first launch will have a high probability of failure and thus should not fly a customers payload.
Surely that's down to the customer? They know it's a first launch. If they want to accept that risk, it's their choice.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Darkseraph on 10/17/2017 09:55 am
It is possible Blue Origin will put New Glenn through a few suborbital launches with a simulated upperstage/payload before the first orbital launch, just to work out the bugs with recovery and reduce risk. I would be surprised in fact if this was not the plan. They haven't shown any evidence of being recklesssly hasty yet.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: rpapo on 10/17/2017 10:22 am
They haven't shown any evidence of being recklesssly hasty yet.
Understatement of the day.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: woods170 on 10/17/2017 10:28 am
It is possible Blue Origin will put New Glenn through a few suborbital launches with a simulated upperstage/payload before the first orbital launch, just to work out the bugs with recovery and reduce risk. I would be surprised in fact if this was not the plan. They haven't shown any evidence of being recklesssly hasty yet.
I'll point out that most of the up-thread mentioned first-flight failures were NOT the result of reckless haste.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 10/20/2017 02:03 pm
Said in a Blue Origin thread:

Quote
Saw the ceiling cranes being delivered this morning at the factory under construction just outside KSC.

https://twitter.com/wordsmithfl/status/921359188684689409 (https://twitter.com/wordsmithfl/status/921359188684689409)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 10/21/2017 03:13 pm
Quote
A sign of the times ... @blueorigin  sign now at main entrance.

https://twitter.com/wordsmithfl/status/921735624515833856 (https://twitter.com/wordsmithfl/status/921735624515833856)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Navier–Stokes on 10/21/2017 03:18 pm
Quote from: https://twitter.com/WordsmithFL/status/921736200641306624
Steven C. Smith @WordsmithFL

The ceiling cranes delivered yesterday to the @blueorigin factory. https://t.co/nwaBgwPLvB
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Req on 10/21/2017 11:14 pm
My god those things are massive...   :o

Did somebody accidentally spec for fully fueled weight instead of dry weight? lol
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: launchwatcher on 10/22/2017 01:25 pm
My god those things are massive...   :o

Did somebody accidentally spec for fully fueled weight instead of dry weight? lol
Maybe they spec'ed it (and the ceiling height, and the doors) to be big enough for their next rocket..
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Lars-J on 10/25/2017 12:13 am
My god those things are massive...   :o

Did somebody accidentally spec for fully fueled weight instead of dry weight? lol
Maybe they spec'ed it (and the ceiling height, and the doors) to be big enough for their next rocket..

No.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: envy887 on 10/25/2017 01:14 am
My god those things are massive...   :o

Did somebody accidentally spec for fully fueled weight instead of dry weight? lol
Maybe they spec'ed it (and the ceiling height, and the doors) to be big enough for their next rocket..

No.

Scaling from that truck parked just inside, the door height and the hook height on the crane look to be around 18 meters (about 60 feet). That's massive overkill for a 7-meter (23 foot) New Glenn.

They could easily build a 12 meter or 14 meter monster in there that would make even the 2016 ITS look small.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: woods170 on 10/25/2017 07:05 am
My god those things are massive...   :o

Did somebody accidentally spec for fully fueled weight instead of dry weight? lol
Maybe they spec'ed it (and the ceiling height, and the doors) to be big enough for their next rocket..

No.

Scaling from that truck parked just inside, the door height and the hook height on the crane look to be around 18 meters (about 60 feet). That's massive overkill for a 7-meter (23 foot) New Glenn.

They could easily build a 12 meter or 14 meter monster in there that would make even the 2016 ITS look small.
That was my impression as well.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Lars-J on 10/26/2017 05:21 am
My god those things are massive...   :o

Did somebody accidentally spec for fully fueled weight instead of dry weight? lol
Maybe they spec'ed it (and the ceiling height, and the doors) to be big enough for their next rocket..

No.

Scaling from that truck parked just inside, the door height and the hook height on the crane look to be around 18 meters (about 60 feet). That's massive overkill for a 7-meter (23 foot) New Glenn.

They could easily build a 12 meter or 14 meter monster in there that would make even the 2016 ITS look small.

A flawed way of thinking, IMO. Let me give you an example... The Pad 39A hangar has an opening that is ~12m high (or more) SURELY that means that it was sized to allow processing of a 12m diameter BFR, right?!?!? No.

You always need lots of clearance and extra margins in the factories. You don't squeeze out products that barely fit through external doors.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Coastal Ron on 10/26/2017 05:33 am
They could easily build a 12 meter or 14 meter monster in there that would make even the 2016 ITS look small.

Anticipating building New Armstrong there too?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: jpo234 on 10/26/2017 10:09 am
Quote from: https://twitter.com/WordsmithFL/status/921736200641306624
Steven C. Smith @WordsmithFL

The ceiling cranes delivered yesterday to the @blueorigin factory. https://t.co/nwaBgwPLvB

One of these: http://www.deshazo.com/cranes/
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: TrevorMonty on 10/26/2017 12:34 pm
They could easily build a 12 meter or 14 meter monster in there that would make even the 2016 ITS look small.

Anticipating building New Armstrong there too?
NA is likely be 3-5 performance of NG, so diameter that will take 21-35 engines. 
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Darkseraph on 10/26/2017 02:07 pm
They could easily build a 12 meter or 14 meter monster in there that would make even the 2016 ITS look small.

Anticipating building New Armstrong there too?
NA is likely be 3-5 performance of NG, so diameter that will take 21-35 engines.

They could opt to develop larger BE-5engines for New Armstrong. Perhaps F1 scale engines or even larger.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: meberbs on 10/26/2017 02:31 pm
My god those things are massive...   :o

Did somebody accidentally spec for fully fueled weight instead of dry weight? lol
Maybe they spec'ed it (and the ceiling height, and the doors) to be big enough for their next rocket..

No.

Scaling from that truck parked just inside, the door height and the hook height on the crane look to be around 18 meters (about 60 feet). That's massive overkill for a 7-meter (23 foot) New Glenn.

They could easily build a 12 meter or 14 meter monster in there that would make even the 2016 ITS look small.

A flawed way of thinking, IMO. Let me give you an example... The Pad 39A hangar has an opening that is ~12m high (or more) SURELY that means that it was sized to allow processing of a 12m diameter BFR, right?!?!? No.

You always need lots of clearance and extra margins in the factories. You don't squeeze out products that barely fit through external doors.
Using the numbers in these posts, Blue's facility (compared to 39A) is about an extra 6m taller for a booster that is an extra 3 m in diameter. seems like these numbers imply they can keep 39A's margins and make a 10m booster. (Actually 39A HIF door seems sized with relatively small margins around the base of the TEL, so your claim and this extrapolation aren't valid)

We know they intend to build a bigger rocket eventually, if they have any clue what size it will be, it makes sense to make this factory big enough to fit it.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: envy887 on 10/26/2017 06:56 pm
My god those things are massive...   :o

Did somebody accidentally spec for fully fueled weight instead of dry weight? lol
Maybe they spec'ed it (and the ceiling height, and the doors) to be big enough for their next rocket..

No.

Scaling from that truck parked just inside, the door height and the hook height on the crane look to be around 18 meters (about 60 feet). That's massive overkill for a 7-meter (23 foot) New Glenn.

They could easily build a 12 meter or 14 meter monster in there that would make even the 2016 ITS look small.

A flawed way of thinking, IMO. Let me give you an example... The Pad 39A hangar has an opening that is ~12m high (or more) SURELY that means that it was sized to allow processing of a 12m diameter BFR, right?!?!? No.

You always need lots of clearance and extra margins in the factories. You don't squeeze out products that barely fit through external doors.

How is 6 meters of clearance on a 12 meter rocket "squeezing"? That's like saying I can barely squeeze under a 9 foot ceiling because I'm 6 feet tall.

The rocket isn't leaving the manufacturing space on a TEL. It's leaving on a transporter, which is under the rocket and only ~2m tall. A 12 meter rocket would fit as least as well as Delta IV cores fit in Delta Mariner:
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: envy887 on 10/26/2017 07:26 pm
My god those things are massive...   :o

Did somebody accidentally spec for fully fueled weight instead of dry weight? lol
Maybe they spec'ed it (and the ceiling height, and the doors) to be big enough for their next rocket..

No.

Scaling from that truck parked just inside, the door height and the hook height on the crane look to be around 18 meters (about 60 feet). That's massive overkill for a 7-meter (23 foot) New Glenn.

They could easily build a 12 meter or 14 meter monster in there that would make even the 2016 ITS look small.

I think I underestimated the door height. The door is 7.5 semis tall, and a mid-roof semi is about 11 feet without the stacks. That puts the door at 82.5 feet, which matches all too well with the reported "super high bay" height of 82 feet:
http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2016/07/02/nasas-rubins-launching-international-space-station/86595062/

That's 25 meters high, easily enough to build a 15 m diameter vehicle.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: AncientU on 10/27/2017 09:12 pm
...
Using the numbers in these posts, Blue's facility (compared to 39A) is about an extra 6m taller for a booster that is an extra 3 m in diameter. seems like these numbers imply they can keep 39A's margins and make a 10m booster. (Actually 39A HIF door seems sized with relatively small margins around the base of the TEL, so your claim and this extrapolation aren't valid)
...

If you need to move one booster over another, you need exactly that extra 6m if your boosters are each 3m larger.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 10/31/2017 05:50 pm
Quote
Logos up! @BlueOrigin's New Glenn factory at KSC getting close. Across the street, OneWeb facility also coming together.

https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/925424294821285889
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Beittil on 11/01/2017 01:44 pm
I really love the look of that building, not just a dull single color like so many others :)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 11/03/2017 07:00 am
Quote
In completely different news, the @blueorigin Cape building is having the overhead cranes installed tonight. #thaplaceishuge

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/926296042605248512
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Nilof on 11/08/2017 01:57 am
That door is so tall, that the stack of the first mercury launch could probably be integrated vertically and fit through the door.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 11/16/2017 06:54 pm
Quote
I spy with my @blueorigin eye ... The letters are up over the entrance.

https://twitter.com/wordsmithfl/status/931245548807606273
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: meekGee on 11/25/2017 05:14 am
Why? Atlas V and Delta IV did. Presumably that customer is going to get a healthy discount.

The customers for the first flight of Ariane V, Delta III, Delta IVH, PSLV, Falcon I, Conestoga, N-1, Europa, Athena 1, Antares 130, SPARK, SS-520-4, Electron, FB-1, CZ-2A, CZ-3, CZ-2E/PKM, CZ-1D, CZ-3B, KT-1, KZ-1T, etc. were not so lucky. Blue Origin should accept some hubris and accept the fact that their first launch will have a high probability of failure and thus should not fly a customers payload.
Surely that's down to the customer? They know it's a first launch. If they want to accept that risk, it's their choice.

Agreed.  As someone who's not really the biggest BO fan, this specific issue is a non-issue.  The customer knows everything that was states up-thread.  If the customer is fine with it, that's all that matters.

Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 12/04/2017 08:11 am
Quote
Drove by the @blueorigin New Glenn factory at Cape Canaveral today. It seems to be nearly complete. There's also a good view of the facility as you walk up to visit the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/937516451342241792
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: BradyKenniston on 12/13/2017 01:00 pm
I took a drive out to the plant last night. It looks amazing all lit up.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 12/13/2017 08:13 pm
Quote
Blue Origin begins moving into massive New Glenn rocket factory at KSC

Emre Kelly | FLORIDA TODAY

Blue Origin has begun the process of moving into its massive rocket factory at Kennedy Space Center's Exploration Park, according to a NASA official's comments during a conference at Port Canaveral this week.

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/12/13/blue-origin-officially-moves-into-new-glenn-rocket-factory-ksc-florida/948899001/
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 12/13/2017 09:03 pm
I took a drive out to the plant last night. It looks amazing all lit up.

A good spot by Chris:

Quote
Hold on....only took me several hours, but are they launch viewing chairs in the top left? 😲

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/941062401725751296
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Nilof on 12/14/2017 04:53 pm
Yep.

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/12/13/blue-origin-officially-moves-into-new-glenn-rocket-factory-ksc-florida/948899001/

Quote
But the factory's proximity to the pad and advances in automation mean teams won't necessarily need a launch control facility on Air Force property – officials expect to use one of the factory's upper-level spaces as a launch control center.

Looks like these launch viewing chairs are there for a reason.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: stcks on 12/14/2017 05:15 pm
Quote
Update on Blue Origin-related barge at Port Canaveral: Fire broke out while subcontractor was cutting weld used to secure new propellant tank. CCAFS crews responded. No injuries or damages. Occurred before Blue Origin took delivery of tank.
https://twitter.com/EmreKelly/status/941361992027295744 (https://twitter.com/EmreKelly/status/941361992027295744)

Anyone have any idea what barge is being discussed here? interesting....  :o
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 12/14/2017 07:29 pm
Quote
The moment you know you’ve officially moved into the rocket factory. #NewGlenn

https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/941404308238725120
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 12/20/2017 08:35 pm
https://youtu.be/ed9r2M-uvOc (https://youtu.be/ed9r2M-uvOc)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: cletus on 02/20/2018 11:37 pm
Nice view of the lobby from Spaceflight Now:

https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/966109157568008192

Quote
Vice President Mike Pence visited Blue Origin’s new rocket factory near the Kennedy Space Center. Blue Origin’s flown New Shepard booster is on display in the lobby.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DWhOg6sVMAACmBQ.jpg)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Markstark on 02/21/2018 12:29 am
It’s beautiful!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 02/21/2018 03:32 pm
Quote
Honored @VP and @SecondLady toured our #NewGlenn rocket factory and new home for the historic #NewShepard booster.

https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/966346919067963393
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: vaporcobra on 02/22/2018 06:03 am
Some nice photos of the interior of the factory from NASA Kennedy's Flickr.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: testguy on 02/22/2018 04:54 pm
Some nice photos of the interior of the factory from NASA Kennedy's Flickr.

100 ton crane, impressive.
Cable trays are filling up also positive.
A little surprised the interior of the building is as empty as it is.  Had hoped tooling, work benches, etc. would have stared to dress out the building by now. I understand they are two years from flight but would have expected some activity to have stared.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: vaporcobra on 02/22/2018 05:49 pm
Some nice photos of the interior of the factory from NASA Kennedy's Flickr.

100 ton crane, impressive.
Cable trays are filling up also positive.
A little surprised the interior of the building is as empty as it is.  Had hoped tooling, work benches, etc. would have stared to dress out the building by now. I understand they are two years from flight but would have expected some activity to have stared.

I think 2020 is wildly optimistic for a company that has not yet made it past Mach 4. We'll see...
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: envy887 on 02/22/2018 08:19 pm
Some nice photos of the interior of the factory from NASA Kennedy's Flickr.

100 ton crane, impressive.
Cable trays are filling up also positive.
A little surprised the interior of the building is as empty as it is.  Had hoped tooling, work benches, etc. would have stared to dress out the building by now. I understand they are two years from flight but would have expected some activity to have stared.

That looks like less than half the building, the other side is curtained off. If they bothered to wall it off there is probably something interesting back there.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: AncientU on 02/22/2018 11:02 pm
Nice building.  Any indication if work has started, cars in the parking lots, etc.?  We've heard that they are getting tooling in, anything else?

Also, I don't think two years is crazy for STAs to roll out which will be great to see, but engine testing would have to be flight qualifying this year to make full-up orbital launch in 2020.  Might happen -- no indications they are that close.  On the other hand, Vulcan is planning to launch mid-2020, so it is still possible the engine will be ready.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Chasm on 02/23/2018 02:56 am
That looks like less than half the building, the other side is curtained off. If they bothered to wall it off there is probably something interesting back there.

Their big building consists of has three long halls. The two pictures show the middle hall. First one at 1/4 of the length. Because of perspective the second one is actually 3/4 (Well, the top right corner of the image is) The end should be just out of shot.

Activity is hard to judge. They started occupancy last year. Latest public terraserver image is 2018-01-04
There is a square building on the western limit of the plot, under the pond, wich has been completed in spring 2017 or so. 2016-10 had a slab with steel framing. In 2017-05 it was complete with marked parking spaces, was landscaped and fenced off.


Who is in the new building to the north east, on the other side of the road?
Construction started between 2016-10 and 2017-05 it had a roof in 2017-11.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: envy887 on 02/23/2018 03:27 am
That looks like less than half the building, the other side is curtained off. If they bothered to wall it off there is probably something interesting back there.

Their big building consists of has three long halls. The two pictures show the middle hall. First one at 1/4 of the length. Because of perspective the second one is actually 3/4 (Well, the top right corner of the image is) The end should be just out of shot.

Activity is hard to judge. They started occupancy last year. Latest public terraserver image is 2018-01-04
There is a square building on the western limit of the plot, under the pond, wich has been completed in spring 2017 or so. 2016-10 had a slab with steel framing. In 2017-05 it was complete with marked parking spaces, was landscaped and fenced off.


Who is in the new building to the north east, on the other side of the road?
Construction started between 2016-10 and 2017-05 it had a roof in 2017-11.

In the second pic you cannot tell whether the 3/4 of the building has anything on the floor, because of that black curtain. Not sure if you can see into that curtained off area in any other pics...
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: woods170 on 02/23/2018 07:20 am
That looks like less than half the building, the other side is curtained off. If they bothered to wall it off there is probably something interesting back there.

Their big building consists of has three long halls. The two pictures show the middle hall. First one at 1/4 of the length. Because of perspective the second one is actually 3/4 (Well, the top right corner of the image is) The end should be just out of shot.

Activity is hard to judge. They started occupancy last year. Latest public terraserver image is 2018-01-04
There is a square building on the western limit of the plot, under the pond, wich has been completed in spring 2017 or so. 2016-10 had a slab with steel framing. In 2017-05 it was complete with marked parking spaces, was landscaped and fenced off.


Who is in the new building to the north east, on the other side of the road?
Construction started between 2016-10 and 2017-05 it had a roof in 2017-11.

In the second pic you cannot tell whether the 3/4 of the building has anything on the floor, because of that black curtain. Not sure if you can see into that curtained off area in any other pics...

Plain and simple: Blue Origin knew that a NASA photographer was to accompany VP Pence. That black curtain was there to hide stuff from public view. Stuff that Blue doesn't want to be viewed by the general public at this stage of NG development.
Think tooling and (prototype) parts and components.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: rory on 02/23/2018 08:52 pm
Nice building.  Any indication if work has started, cars in the parking lots, etc.?  We've heard that they are getting tooling in, anything else?

Also, I don't think two years is crazy for STAs to roll out which will be great to see, but engine testing would have to be flight qualifying this year to make full-up orbital launch in 2020.  Might happen -- no indications they are that close.  On the other hand, Vulcan is planning to launch mid-2020, so it is still possible the engine will be ready.

The parking lot was nearly full when I went by on 2/8. Hard to tell how many of them were Blue Origin employees and how many were construction workers, however. (Something tells me engineers don't drive that many pickup trucks...)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Chasm on 02/23/2018 09:07 pm
Which is why I stressed the corner.  :)
Looking at aerial images and counting pillars once more there are ~32 total so it is actually only half of the full length.

Why put your machinery into a huge (~230x55 meter) hall with almost full size roll up doors on both ends? That sounds like final assembly/storage/inspection/refit to me.
I think they have the interesting stuff in the side halls. Most of them had a roof as of 2017/03.

The western building however got a LOT more interesting. Take a look at Bing, or 2016/10 images. A mighty funny structure they have in there, right next to the big no parking zone. Each circle happens to be ~7m diameter. On other images you can see them building the frame above it, so it is now an interior structure.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: envy887 on 02/24/2018 01:12 am
Machinery to lay CRFP and stir weld aluminum at 7 meter diameter doesn't fit in most "side halls"...
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Chasm on 02/24/2018 02:40 am
Really? I don't think so.
Lets measure again in Google Earth and with a picture taken square form the north for heights. Only the big stuff

Width overall is on the order of 167 meter. "Left" 65m, center 62m, right (parking lot) 42m.

Length is split up a lot and not of the same overall length.
Center is the longest with 241 meter.
Left, lower is 108m. (This one tallest after center, 25m?)
Left upper is 112m. (This is supposed to be ~half the height of the lower)
Right, lower (looking form the parking lot left of central entry) is 108m
Right, entry is 25m.
Right, upper (looking form the parking lot right of central entry) is 91m

Central height ~33m, crane clearance ~22m, door clearance ~19m (pond side door).
Right height is ~22m (both). Or 9.5 flights of external fire escape stairs, however much that tends to be in Florida. :)


Even the "small" addition on the south end of the left hall is big enough to transfer first stage into the main hall. 65x14 meter
There is a whole lot of room in the other areas of the factory outside the main section.


The north west building, just the roof of the tall part, is 41m wide, 51m long. The two(?) story part adds another 9m to width. No pictures of this one in a quick search so no height.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 02/27/2018 08:31 pm
Quote
Henderson: Blue Origin has invested more than $200M so far for just-completed manufacturing facility and launch complex under construction (LC-36).

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/968591665236725760
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Beittil on 03/14/2018 02:59 pm
Who is in the new building to the north east, on the other side of the road?
Construction started between 2016-10 and 2017-05 it had a roof in 2017-11.
That would be Oneweb
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Slarty1080 on 04/05/2018 07:49 pm
Wow, I had no idea of what had been happening with New Origins and I was just getting up to speed on the situation on this thread from the start : https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41146.60
which links here. Someone asked where is the New Glenn going to be Built -  and here it is the whole factory from brown field to finished plant in 18 months or so!
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: WindnWar on 04/05/2018 08:36 pm
I saw the building on my way into the KSC Visitors Center the day after watching Falcon Heavy launch. Was an impressive looking building. At that time there were not a lot of cars in it's parking lot.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Slarty1080 on 04/05/2018 11:10 pm
I saw the building on my way into the KSC Visitors Center the day after watching Falcon Heavy launch. Was an impressive looking building. At that time there were not a lot of cars in it's parking lot.

Interesting - so do you think they are waiting on something before building NG? I got the impression that it was all underway...
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Jim on 04/10/2018 01:21 pm
I saw the building on my way into the KSC Visitors Center the day after watching Falcon Heavy launch. Was an impressive looking building. At that time there were not a lot of cars in it's parking lot.

Interesting - so do you think they are waiting on something before building NG? I got the impression that it was all underway...

It is still in design and also need to add tooling to the building
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Inoeth on 04/11/2018 03:31 am
I saw the building on my way into the KSC Visitors Center the day after watching Falcon Heavy launch. Was an impressive looking building. At that time there were not a lot of cars in it's parking lot.

Interesting - so do you think they are waiting on something before building NG? I got the impression that it was all underway...

It is still in design and also need to add tooling to the building

Yeah, considering that they just recently (as of January or February- I don't know which month exactly) they changed from using the BE4 U to two BE3U's means that they're still finalizing the design and quite possibly finalizing their BE4 and BE3U development for the rocket, plus, as you said, they need the design finalized before they can bring in all the tooling and begin to build the rockets... SpaceX builds a Falcon 9 in what, a year from starting with raw materials to launch? so I would perhaps guess that BO will need at least a year and a half once design is complete and possibly two to build the very first prototype New Glenn... It's April of 2018 and BO's plan is end of 2020 so at this point I would guess that they need to start bending metal by the middle of this year if they hope to make their debut date.


You said you didn't see many cars on the day after FH back in February- I wonder what it looks like now 2 months later in terms of activity occurring....
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Robotbeat on 04/13/2018 01:19 pm
Quote
Henderson: Blue Origin has invested more than $200M so far for just-completed manufacturing facility and launch complex under construction (LC-36).

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/968591665236725760
SpaceX invested about $100,000 in their BFR factory tent at the LA port that’s housing their tooling.  (I know it’s just for storage, but so hilarious anyway.)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Craig_VG on 05/08/2018 02:33 am
Drove by the manufacturing site today... wow it has definitely come a long way!

Check out the booster inside
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: wannamoonbase on 05/08/2018 02:34 pm
Quote
Henderson: Blue Origin has invested more than $200M so far for just-completed manufacturing facility and launch complex under construction (LC-36).

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/968591665236725760
SpaceX invested about $100,000 in their BFR factory tent at the LA port that’s housing their tooling.  (I know it’s just for storage, but so hilarious anyway.)

The picture of LC36 gets me excited, I miss working at CCAFS.  It was my Graceland.

It will be interesting to see if they build a pad that can handle growth of a vehicle or just handle NG.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Craig_VG on 05/08/2018 03:03 pm
Here's some photos from similar angles... summer of 2016, 2017, and 2018
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: su27k on 08/01/2018 03:09 pm
Some impressive tooling will be heading to the factory: http://www.rrstar.com/news/20180717/rockford-made-machine-to-build-parts-for-next-generation-rockets (link discovered by reddit)

Quote
Ingersoll Machine Tools has built the largest machine of its kind in the world for the world’s richest man — Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, who will use the engineering marvel to build rockets to carry humans to the moon and maybe even Mars.

It took three years to design and manufacture the Sasquatch-sized machine, which stands 51 feet tall, 136 feet long and 43 feet wide. The machine — its trademarked name is Mongoose — will be disassembled in coming weeks and shipped to Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket factory, at Kennedy Space Center’s Exploration Park on Merritt Island, Florida.

There, the machine will be reassembled and will manufacture cryogenic tanks that will be filled with liquid oxygen and hydrogen to fuel rockets. The machine also will build fairings — large aerodynamic structures that encapsulate rocket payloads like satellites and other critical equipment.

it's a fiber placement machine, and they said it will be used to build tanks, does this mean New Glenn will use carbon fiber tank too?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: ncb1397 on 08/01/2018 05:18 pm
Quote
Henderson: Blue Origin has invested more than $200M so far for just-completed manufacturing facility and launch complex under construction (LC-36).

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/968591665236725760
SpaceX invested about $100,000 in their BFR factory tent at the LA port that’s housing their tooling.  (I know it’s just for storage, but so hilarious anyway.)

Seems like $500,000 for the tent and a fence:

https://www.portoflosangeles.org/Board/2017/November%202017/111617_Regular_Agenda_Item_I.pdf

And the Blue Origin factory is 38x the size.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: edkyle99 on 08/01/2018 05:29 pm
Some impressive tooling will be heading to the factory: http://www.rrstar.com/news/20180717/rockford-made-machine-to-build-parts-for-next-generation-rockets (link discovered by reddit)

Quote
Ingersoll Machine Tools has built the largest machine of its kind in the world for the world’s richest man — Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, who will use the engineering marvel to build rockets to carry humans to the moon and maybe even Mars.

It took three years to design and manufacture the Sasquatch-sized machine, which stands 51 feet tall, 136 feet long and 43 feet wide. The machine — its trademarked name is Mongoose — will be disassembled in coming weeks and shipped to Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket factory, at Kennedy Space Center’s Exploration Park on Merritt Island, Florida.

There, the machine will be reassembled and will manufacture cryogenic tanks that will be filled with liquid oxygen and hydrogen to fuel rockets. The machine also will build fairings — large aerodynamic structures that encapsulate rocket payloads like satellites and other critical equipment.

it's a fiber placement machine, and they said it will be used to build tanks, does this mean New Glenn will use carbon fiber tank too?
It seems possible.  The machine will also build fairings, the story says, and is derived from similar machines made by Ingersoll used to build 787 sections.  Here's a video of a similar Mongoose machine in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDbrVTWnFIU

 - Ed Kyle
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: oldAtlas_Eguy on 08/01/2018 08:33 pm
I find this amusing.

If the NG is indeed a fiber composite cryo tank it will proceeded as an operational LV to that of BFR. Both of which will be large diameter applications. If this is correct this portends the beginning of the end for metal tanks on LVs. With Electron using all composite tanks/structure, BFR, even OmegA using composite case large diameter SRBs, and now it looks like NG as well completes the picture of advanced new designs of LVs (except Vulcan) going in the direction of carbon composite to save vehicle dry weight and improve performance significantly.

For reusable vehicles tank dry weight and it's ability to be reused often with very high strength margins for its weight is the holy grail. So far there is two candidates for this supper light weight tank structure designs: stainless steel balloon tank and carbon composite rigid structure. ULA is using the stainless steel balloon tank design for the Centaur V and follow-on ACES designs for weight and they have significant experience in manufacture and handling it. For others the choice of going with carbon composite yields about the same price point for performance as the stainless steel balloon tank design. It is interesting to note that carbon composite manufacture is mature enough that it yields a superior tank for the same ~costs as a aluminum alloy tank and may even be easier to manufacture for large diameter.

So awaiting the confirmation of whether NG is going to use carbon composite cryo tankage.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: envy887 on 08/01/2018 11:30 pm
Interesting that it says "and hydrogen", with no mention of LNG. If that's accurate, it would be the upper stage at least.

In 2016 Bezos said the factory would have a "large-scale friction stir welding" machine. I can't imagine much use for such a machine on a rocket with carbon fiber tanks.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Chasm on 08/02/2018 01:32 am
Sounds like upper stage / fairing to me.

Main reason is that it seems a bit short for the first stage.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: LouScheffer on 08/02/2018 12:40 pm
So far there is two candidates for this supper light weight tank structure designs: stainless steel balloon tank and carbon composite rigid structure.

Perhaps this should go under "advanced concepts", but a carbon fiber balloon tank could have an amazing mass fraction.  Carbon fiber is lighter and stronger than stainless steel, and if you can keep it purely in tension, as in a balloon tank, you can use these properties to the full.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: brickmack on 08/02/2018 07:51 pm
As of 2016 New Glenn was said to use friction stir welding. Since this only mentions hydrogen and oxygen, most likely the first stage is still metallic. Also, its a bit of a reach given the image quality, but I found this cutaway picture which seems to show metallic first stage tanks and a composite second stage
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Markstark on 08/05/2018 07:32 pm
Definitely not the best pics

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180805/b6a58a6434b929a32c8bc7c6cb727d1a.jpg)

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180805/e3ff45d4a782609e0da9570468e8402c.jpg)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 03/22/2019 06:12 pm
Quote
Blue Origin is expanding its already massive New Glenn rocket factory at Kennedy Space Center
EMRE KELLY | FLORIDA TODAY | 9 minutes ago

Just south of Blue Origin's imposing campus at Kennedy Space Center, an empty patch of land will soon be transformed into a sprawling, technology-laden extension of the aerospace company's existing rocket manufacturing facility.

Labeled as "South Campus" in water management district documents obtained by FLORIDA TODAY, the 90-acre expansion will connect to the factory at Exploration Park

https://amp.floridatoday.com/amp/3226113002
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: b0objunior on 03/22/2019 07:32 pm
I made an image for a better view of where the expension will be. Pretty big expension.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: PM3 on 03/25/2019 07:01 pm
The "expansion" may be related to this, as reported by NSF (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/11/blue-origin-2020-debut-new-glenn-rocket/) in November 2017:
Quote
Blue Origin will also build their Launch and Landing Control Center, called the L&LCC, as well as their mission support center near the factory building.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: b0objunior on 04/11/2019 10:13 pm
Two new images from the Walt Street Journal article "Can Jeff Bezos Make Money in Space?". I'm wondering if it's a painting chamber?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Chasm on 04/12/2019 04:57 am
Could be.
Insert air from above, remove from the bottom. Places to get air all along the length.

Looks like a slightly heavy door though. And why silvery surfaces?

Second guess is a big oven to cure carbon fibre parts. Not an autoclave - out of autoclave. :) 
Just a big, preferably insulated, room to get the part on its form to ~100°C. (Depending on the resin used. A quick search says 60-180°C with several lightly above 100°C, probably to reduce water.)

Needs a bit more image resolution to read the label on the door.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: b0objunior on 04/12/2019 08:29 am
Could be.
Insert air from above, remove from the bottom. Places to get air all along the length.

Looks like a slightly heavy door though. And why silvery surfaces?

Second guess is a big oven to cure carbon fibre parts. Not an autoclave - out of autoclave. :) 
Just a big, preferably insulated, room to get the part on its form to ~100°C. (Depending on the resin used. A quick search says 60-180°C with several lightly above 100°C, probably to reduce water.)

Needs a bit more image resolution to read the label on the door.
Yeah, a big oven actually makes a lot of sense.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: ZachF on 04/12/2019 04:58 pm
Suggestion: Maybe the expansion shown a few posts above will be a manufacturing site for satellites for the future AWS constellation?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: b0objunior on 04/12/2019 05:51 pm
Suggestion: Maybe the expansion shown a few posts above will be a manufacturing site for satellites for the future AWS constellation?
Well, that would be an interesting idea. If they're build in-house, it could be a good place. But is Florida a good environment to build satellites?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Chasm on 04/12/2019 06:45 pm
Could be. OTOH there is no real need to do it in the same location. Unless Blue has very different ideas on what to fly in a mega constellations than the competition.
Right now additional storage area makes more sense to me. Expanding while you can and making sure that the area won't be blocked by someone else in the future.
Worst case they can still rent out or sell an empty and slightly oversized factory building.

What happened to the satellite company(ies?) that prepared for the boom in and serial production of small sats that were in serve financial trouble? Esp. the one selling the building. Did someone buy them for little money?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Steven Pietrobon on 04/13/2019 06:12 am
Well, that would be an interesting idea. If they're build in-house, it could be a good place. But is Florida a good environment to build satellites?

Its as good as anywhere else in the US. That's where they'll be building the Oneweb satellites.

https://www.spaceflorida.gov/projects/oneweb-satellites-manufacturing/
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: b0objunior on 04/13/2019 07:44 am
Well, that would be an interesting idea. If they're build in-house, it could be a good place. But is Florida a good environment to build satellites?

Its as good as anywhere else in the US. That's where they'll be building the Oneweb satellites.

https://www.spaceflorida.gov/projects/oneweb-satellites-manufacturing/
Well, that's great!
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: gtae07 on 04/14/2019 12:30 am
But is Florida a good environment to build satellites?

Why wouldn’t it be? Air conditioning has been a thing in the southeast for several decades.  It would save on transport costs.  Lower costs for both the company and the employees.  And so on.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Coastal Ron on 04/14/2019 12:38 am
Suggestion: Maybe the expansion shown a few posts above will be a manufacturing site for satellites for the future AWS constellation?
Well, that would be an interesting idea. If they're build in-house, it could be a good place. But is Florida a good environment to build satellites?

All factories that build electronics have climate control, and clean rooms if necessary, no matter where they are located. In fact hot and dry locations are actually worse for handing electronics than hot and humid due to static electricity.

Building the satellites on-site would remove one step from their logistics planning, and might even cut costs.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 05/29/2019 03:43 pm
Quote
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, far right, tours the Blue Origin facilities near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 23, 2019. Bridenstine viewed the New Shepard booster and crew capsule that flew to space and back five times. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Some more, similar, photos on NASA Kennedy flickr account.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: gtae07 on 05/31/2019 04:04 pm
Quote
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, far right, tours the Blue Origin facilities near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 23, 2019. Bridenstine viewed the New Shepard booster and crew capsule that flew to space and back five times. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Can anyone identify the guy second from the left, with arms crossed in front of him?  He looks awful familiar and I think I know him from a place I interned at years ago, but I keep thinking "no, that can't be him"...
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: HMXHMX on 06/03/2019 01:43 am
Quote
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, far right, tours the Blue Origin facilities near the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 23, 2019. Bridenstine viewed the New Shepard booster and crew capsule that flew to space and back five times. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Can anyone identify the guy second from the left, with arms crossed in front of him?  He looks awful familiar and I think I know him from a place I interned at years ago, but I keep thinking "no, that can't be him"...

A.C. Charnia, Blue Origin BD guy.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: gtae07 on 06/03/2019 12:22 pm
Can anyone identify the guy second from the left, with arms crossed in front of him?  He looks awful familiar and I think I know him from a place I interned at years ago, but I keep thinking "no, that can't be him"...

A.C. Charnia, Blue Origin BD guy.

Well son of a... it is him!  Thanks!
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 06/17/2019 09:47 pm
https://twitter.com/cygnusx112/status/1140736210421329926

Quote
A large crane is vertical at the #BlueOrigin site. The 🚀 factory is going to be massive!
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: cygnusx112 on 06/28/2019 12:33 am
The newest structure going up right across the street from the new KSCVC entrance. Anyone know what this is going to be?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 06/28/2019 08:40 am
The newest structure going up right across the street from the new KSCVC entrance. Anyone know what this is going to be?

I assume it’s part of Blue’s expansion plans noted here (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40620.msg1926171#msg1926171).

I don’t know the local geography, can you say where on the plan (attached to the post linked above) the new structure is?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: AnalogMan on 06/28/2019 10:47 am
The newest structure going up right across the street from the new KSCVC entrance. Anyone know what this is going to be?

I assume it’s part of Blue’s expansion plans noted here (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40620.msg1926171#msg1926171).

I don’t know the local geography, can you say where on the plan (attached to the post linked above) the new structure is?

This might be a better site plan to help identify the new building.

There are tables on the right of the drawing that list existing, proposed and future facilities on the site.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: cygnusx112 on 06/28/2019 01:28 pm
The newest structure going up right across the street from the new KSCVC entrance. Anyone know what this is going to be?

I assume it’s part of Blue’s expansion plans noted here (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40620.msg1926171#msg1926171).

I don’t know the local geography, can you say where on the plan (attached to the post linked above) the new structure is?

This might be a better site plan to help identify the new building.

There are tables on the right of the drawing that list existing, proposed and future facilities on the site.
Based on the map I think it's the SCF. First time I've seen that map. Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: b0objunior on 06/29/2019 08:17 pm
The newest structure going up right across the street from the new KSCVC entrance. Anyone know what this is going to be?

I assume it’s part of Blue’s expansion plans noted here (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40620.msg1926171#msg1926171).

I don’t know the local geography, can you say where on the plan (attached to the post linked above) the new structure is?

This might be a better site plan to help identify the new building.

There are tables on the right of the drawing that list existing, proposed and future facilities on the site.
Based on the map I think it's the SCF. First time I've seen that map. Thanks for sharing!
Do you have any idea what SCF means?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Newton_V on 06/29/2019 08:34 pm
Do you have any idea what SCF means?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sensitive_Compartmented_Information_Facility
Usually SCIF, but I'm guessing that's what it is.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: ncb1397 on 06/29/2019 08:38 pm
The newest structure going up right across the street from the new KSCVC entrance. Anyone know what this is going to be?

I assume it’s part of Blue’s expansion plans noted here (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40620.msg1926171#msg1926171).

I don’t know the local geography, can you say where on the plan (attached to the post linked above) the new structure is?

This might be a better site plan to help identify the new building.

There are tables on the right of the drawing that list existing, proposed and future facilities on the site.
Based on the map I think it's the SCF. First time I've seen that map. Thanks for sharing!
Do you have any idea what SCF means?

The sitemap refers to a "surface coating facility".
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: b0objunior on 06/29/2019 11:16 pm
The newest structure going up right across the street from the new KSCVC entrance. Anyone know what this is going to be?

I assume it’s part of Blue’s expansion plans noted here (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40620.msg1926171#msg1926171).

I don’t know the local geography, can you say where on the plan (attached to the post linked above) the new structure is?

This might be a better site plan to help identify the new building.

There are tables on the right of the drawing that list existing, proposed and future facilities on the site.
Based on the map I think it's the SCF. First time I've seen that map. Thanks for sharing!
Do you have any idea what SCF means?

The sitemap refers to a "surface coating facility".
Thank you!
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: AnalogMan on 06/30/2019 10:29 am
There will be at least one notable tall building on this site - when built it will be 235 ft (71.6 m) high.  In comparison the main building is listed as 101 ft (30.8 m), and SCF 98 ft (29.9 m).

This new building is the TCAT Facility in which Tank Cleaning and Testing will take place.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 09/08/2019 03:43 pm
Looks like some land clearing and a new drainage pond have been built on the lot south of the Blue Origin factory:

per Planet labs imagery August update

shorturl.at/clprF
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 10/22/2019 01:43 pm
https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1186635748008747008

Quote
Bezos: "This is a video we haven't shown before."

A rare look inside @BlueOrigin's facility in Florida, where we can see a New Glenn fairing (the rocket's nose cone) being made. It's being put into an oven, for curing the carbon composites.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: skyflyer81 on 10/23/2019 04:45 pm
I took this on Oct 11th, it looks like it's getting taller
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 11/03/2019 01:37 pm
Construction progress since the beginning of construction.

I tried to get a frame once a month but cloud cover made that a challenge  :o

I hope you all enjoy these gifs as much as I do.
Let me know if there's anything else you'd like to see  :)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 11/29/2019 12:40 pm
https://twitter.com/gregscott_photo/status/1200403925775585281

Quote
BLUE ORIGIN CONSTRUCTION: BO continues its construction of at least 3 new buildings at #NASA where it will build its 270' & 313' variants of the New Glenn reusable rocket. 1st & 2nd stages as well as payload fairings will be constructed here. #blueorigin #Space #newglenn
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 12/06/2019 03:54 am
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 12/07/2019 08:59 pm
https://twitter.com/wordsmithfl/status/1203433302566289408

Quote
The @blueorigin south campus under construction at @NASAKennedy's Exploration Park.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 01/18/2020 04:54 pm
https://twitter.com/joroulette/status/1218592087953768449

Quote
A new vertical building popped up at Blue Origin's New Glenn facility in Cape Canaveral. Blue has invested about $2.5 billion in New Glenn and its facilities so far
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 01/20/2020 09:18 pm
https://twitter.com/john_winkopp/status/1219364659477852161

Quote
Top of #BlueOrigin rocket factory tower under construction 20 January 2020.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 01/26/2020 05:26 pm
https://twitter.com/cygnusx112/status/1221495425544400896

Quote
The TCAT at #BlueOrigin is rapidly being enclosed. This building is 235 feet tall. For comparison the VAB is 525 feet tall. It really stands out on the horizon. Picture taken from 6 miles away. #SpaceCoast
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: bombyx on 01/26/2020 06:45 pm
I've annotated the supposed height and width of this building on Joey Roulette's picture:
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: HeartofGold2030 on 02/03/2020 04:01 pm
A cropped aerial shot of Blue’s KSC site.

Source: https://twitter.com/izqomar/status/1224373275867959296
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 03/18/2020 05:04 am
https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1239988124203266048

Quote
New kid on the block at Cape Canaveral: “Blue”
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 03/30/2020 04:13 am
It looks like 'Building C' is under construction :)
A gif showing what I think is a roof going up.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 04/15/2020 03:14 am
https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1250177100881055746?s
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 06/23/2020 06:10 am
A contractor posted images inside the factory, looks like they did drywall on the Launch Control Center:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_Ykd5zj0Ze/
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: AnalogMan on 09/19/2020 03:31 pm
Blue Origin are planning to build a second tank test & cleaning facility on the Blue Origin OLS Manufacturing Complex (OLS = Orbital Launch Site) in the South West area of the site.

This is the description from the St Johns River Water Management District application submitted yesterday:

"The proposed Building G Facility, also known as the Second Tank Cleaning & Test (2CAT) Facility, is a flexible test site that will be used for testing and checkout of newly manufactured tanks for Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Program. The Building G Facility will give needed test capabilities for hydro/pneumatic proof testing, leak checking, tank cleaning, and tank drying."

Supporting documents can be found here:

https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/epermitting/jsp/Search.do?theAction=searchDetail&permitNumber=164430 (https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/epermitting/jsp/Search.do?theAction=searchDetail&permitNumber=164430)

The Building is approx  50 ft x 75 ft and 100 ft tall.  The plan below shows a 9 metre diameter tank on a ~45 ft diameter base within the building.

(pdf of overall site plan also attached - new facility G is in vector graphics, so you can zoom right in for detail.  If using Adobe Reader, switch off the line weights to see more detail)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: jon.amos on 09/21/2020 03:23 am
Drove by Blue yesterday, nothing special, parking lot empty.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: grondilu on 09/21/2020 08:57 am
Drove by Blue yesterday, nothing special, parking lot empty.

Well, it was Sunday, wasn't it ?

Blue Origin wants “to create a future where millions of people are living and working in space. ”, but that doesn't mean they should work on week-ends, come on.  There are priorities.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: HVM on 09/21/2020 09:47 am
Were you rolling by with your iPhone 8? Your images make my neck hurt.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: tyrred on 09/21/2020 11:19 am
Were you rolling by with your iPhone 8? Your images make my neck hurt.

If you click on them, they orient correctly.

But yeah, why do the previews have to do that stupid sh!t?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: jon.amos on 09/21/2020 01:40 pm
Wheels were full stop, this fourm doesn't like my phone.  Saturday so few cars expected but still surprised by none.  BTY I was in the neighborhood for work, yes the aerospace industry works on weekends, some late evenings and the occasional holiday.  8)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Nomadd on 09/21/2020 04:37 pm
 I hopped on a plane, rented a car and waited for the exact same clouds and lighting to take the exact same photos jon.amos got. Finding a car with the identical rear view mirror was the hard part.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: HVM on 09/21/2020 06:23 pm
Were you rolling by with your iPhone 8? Your images make my neck hurt.
If you click on them, they orient correctly.
Not if you use old enough browser...

But yeah, why do the previews have to do that stupid sh!t?
Apple doesn't turn actual image files, it just writes flag that tells where acceleration sensor's measured gravity vector is e.g. which side is up. Modern browsers shows images right but this forum software doesn't copy that flag to the thumbnail/scaled preview image.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Nomadd on 09/22/2020 04:04 am
Were you rolling by with your iPhone 8? Your images make my neck hurt.
If you click on them, they orient correctly.
Not if you use old enough browser...

But yeah, why do the previews have to do that stupid sh!t?
Apple doesn't turn actual image files, it just writes flag that tells where acceleration sensor's measured gravity vector is e.g. which side is up. Modern browsers shows images right but this forum software doesn't copy that flag to the thumbnail/scaled preview image.
I heard all the explanations, but sort of zoned out after a while. I just export the image to a PNG and back to jpeg to straighten it out.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Prettz on 09/22/2020 12:27 pm
Were you rolling by with your iPhone 8? Your images make my neck hurt.
If you click on them, they orient correctly.
Not if you use old enough browser...

But yeah, why do the previews have to do that stupid sh!t?
Apple doesn't turn actual image files, it just writes flag that tells where acceleration sensor's measured gravity vector is e.g. which side is up. Modern browsers shows images right but this forum software doesn't copy that flag to the thumbnail/scaled preview image.
I heard all the explanations, but sort of zoned out after a while. I just export the image to a PNG and back to jpeg to straighten it out.
FYI, there are programs that can losslessly rotate a JPEG image.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: AnalogMan on 09/22/2020 01:46 pm
Here's a couple of low-res aerial photos of the Blue Origin manufacturing complex taken in July 2020.  They from the St Johns River application (details a few posts up) and taken from the Environmental Resource Management Plan document.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: grondilu on 09/23/2020 03:18 pm
Here's a couple of low-res aerial photos of the Blue Origin manufacturing complex taken in July 2020.  They from the St Johns River application (details a few posts up) and taken from the Environmental Resource Management Plan document.
I think that's the first time I see a vertical assembly building, assuming that's indeed what it is.  They are actually progressing very fast, apparently.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: AnalogMan on 09/23/2020 05:44 pm
Here's a couple of low-res aerial photos of the Blue Origin manufacturing complex taken in July 2020.  They from the St Johns River application (details a few posts up) and taken from the Environmental Resource Management Plan document.
I think that's the first time I see a vertical assembly building, assuming that's indeed what it is.  They are actually progressing very fast, apparently.

That tall building is the first Tank Cleaning and Test (TCAT) facility - its 235 ft tall.  A second smaller one is planned (see my earlier post above)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: jon.amos on 09/24/2020 10:39 pm
I hopped on a plane, rented a car and waited for the exact same clouds and lighting to take the exact same photos jon.amos got. Finding a car with the identical rear view mirror was the hard part.

Thanks for duplicating my images man, you got it perfect right down to the position on the road and the perfect cloud match.  You must have some really great connections upstairs for that.  Weather control normally just ignores my requests   :o

Should have called ahead when in the area, I would have bought you a pint of Guinness after your long journey to duplicate some relatively crappy phone pics.  8)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: grondilu on 12/30/2020 01:52 pm
Here is a new image of the work completed for the Control Center - a total of 4 new antennas and external access stairs.
Not sure why you used a PDF.  Let me attach the corresponding jpg files.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 01/25/2021 04:23 am
Blue Origin are planning to build a second tank test & cleaning facility on the Blue Origin OLS Manufacturing Complex (OLS = Orbital Launch Site) in the South West area of the site.

This is the description from the St Johns River Water Management District application submitted yesterday:

"The proposed Building G Facility, also known as the Second Tank Cleaning & Test (2CAT) Facility, is a flexible test site that will be used for testing and checkout of newly manufactured tanks for Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Program. The Building G Facility will give needed test capabilities for hydro/pneumatic proof testing, leak checking, tank cleaning, and tank drying."

Supporting documents can be found here:

https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/epermitting/jsp/Search.do?theAction=searchDetail&permitNumber=164430 (https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/epermitting/jsp/Search.do?theAction=searchDetail&permitNumber=164430)

The Building is approx  50 ft x 75 ft and 100 ft tall.  The plan below shows a 9 metre diameter tank on a ~45 ft diameter base within the building.

(pdf of overall site plan also attached - new facility G is in vector graphics, so you can zoom right in for detail.  If using Adobe Reader, switch off the line weights to see more detail)
I forgot to post this a few days ago when I noticed it but from Sentinel-2 imagery it looks like Blue may be starting work on their site expansion as quoted above.
Attached below is a gif comparing the 5th & 20th of January. Will post updates when I can :)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 01/29/2021 08:00 am
In this image you can see land being cleared for the new roads which outline the expansion of the retention pond in that area.
Taken by Sentinel-2 @ 2021-01-28 16:15:25 UTC.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: southcounty253 on 02/01/2021 07:17 pm
Here is a new image of the work completed for the Control Center - a total of 4 new antennas and external access stairs.
Not sure why you used a PDF.  Let me attach the corresponding jpg files.

What's that piece sitting outside at ground level?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: vaporcobra on 02/02/2021 09:05 pm
Excellent aerial overview of Blue Origin's New Glenn factory from NASA!

https://images.nasa.gov/search-results?keywords=Aerials&page=1&media=image,video,audio&yearStart=2021&yearEnd=2021
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Steve G on 02/02/2021 11:36 pm
Are the cutting any metal yet? There's at least a couple of hundred cars in the parking lots.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: b0objunior on 02/02/2021 11:51 pm
Are the cutting any metal yet? There's at least a couple of hundred cars in the parking lots.
From the videos on blue origin youtube channel they seem to be building stuff there.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: ncb1397 on 02/03/2021 12:29 am
Are the cutting any metal yet? There's at least a couple of hundred cars in the parking lots.

Does this count?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 03/05/2021 12:56 am
An update on the expansion for the 'Second Tank Cleaning & Test (2CAT) Facility'.
Ground work seems to be well underway. Image taken a @ 2021-03-04 16:15:24 UTC.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Nomadd on 03/05/2021 07:35 pm
Excellent aerial overview of Blue Origin's New Glenn factory from NASA!

https://images.nasa.gov/search-results?keywords=Aerials&page=1&media=image,video,audio&yearStart=2021&yearEnd=2021
At least she's pretty.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: trimeta on 03/31/2021 02:33 am
Another 70 acres worth of expansion of their "South Campus" manufacturing site at KSC: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/blue-origin-expand-rocket-manufacturing-facility-kennedy-space-center/B6NAYGB2FNAQVKMY7BM2HFR7KU/

Longer article, but maybe paywalled: https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/03/29/blue-origin-to-expand-rocket-manufacturing-facilit.html
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 03/31/2021 12:31 pm
Another 70 acres worth of expansion of their "South Campus" manufacturing site at KSC: https://www.wftv.com/news/local/blue-origin-expand-rocket-manufacturing-facility-kennedy-space-center/B6NAYGB2FNAQVKMY7BM2HFR7KU/

Longer article, but maybe paywalled: https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/news/2021/03/29/blue-origin-to-expand-rocket-manufacturing-facilit.html
Plans & additional materials attached, taken from https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/ep/#/prmtInfo?curId=&hdr=1&usrId=0&offclId=168074&seqNo=1
Edit: Added a screenshot of the area so you don't have to download the plans.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 04/10/2021 01:16 am
An update on the expansion for the second 'Tank Cleaning & Test (TCAT) Facility'. See this post for details: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40620.msg2134073#msg2134073
It looks like the area for the TCAT is visible just to the south of the extended retention pond which is now being filled.

Image taken @ 2021-04-08 16:15:20 UTC
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 08/02/2021 12:23 am
A few tweets with updated aerial photos. I don't see a date for these, but they seem recent given that the area for the 2nd Tank Cleaning and Testing (TCAT) facility is being prepared.
https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct/status/1421823780977094658?s
https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct/status/1421825356554768384?s
https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct/status/1421825640928579589?s
https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct/status/1421826065111130123?s
https://twitter.com/bioreconstruct/status/1421826687520620545?s
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: StarshipTrooper on 08/02/2021 03:40 am
I guess the employees take a bus or train or something. Maybe these pictures were taken during holiday.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Jim on 08/02/2021 04:28 am
I guess the employees take a bus or train or something. Maybe these pictures were taken during holiday.

No trains or buses
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Eric Hedman on 08/02/2021 04:52 am
I guess the employees take a bus or train or something. Maybe these pictures were taken during holiday.
I noticed the mostly empty parking lots too.  Maybe they don't have that many employees at this facility yet.  If they don't have the New Glenn design ready for production, they don't exactly have a huge need to crank out rocket parts at a high rate yet.  Does anyone know how many people they currently employ at this facility?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: savantu on 08/02/2021 04:52 am
I guess the employees take a bus or train or something. Maybe these pictures were taken during holiday.
Or most likely nobody is working there. You have a few security and facility personnel and that's about it.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Llian Rhydderch on 08/13/2021 01:30 pm
Perhaps the employees were all at an offsite being trained in the Bob Smith Way.


 
(I mean other companies have done similar things, e.g. Toyota (http://The Toyota Way))
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Eric Hedman on 08/13/2021 11:39 pm
Perhaps the employees were all at an offsite being trained in the Bob Smith Way.


 
(I mean other companies have done similar things, e.g. Toyota (http://The Toyota Way))
Now that's funny.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: JCRM on 08/14/2021 05:09 am
I guess the employees take a bus or train or something. Maybe these pictures were taken during holiday.
August first was a Sunday, wasn't it?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Tommyboy on 08/16/2021 08:23 pm
Perhaps the employees were all at an offsite being trained in the Bob Smith Way.


 
(I mean other companies have done similar things, e.g. Toyota (http://The Toyota Way))
You had me looking at the source code of your post to see why the link wasn't working. Is that the Boeing way?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 08/26/2021 11:54 pm
Some great photos showing the south side of the campus. The second photo is a close up of the 2nd stage Tank Cleaning and Test (TCAT) facility under construction, noted here: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40620.msg2134073#msg2134073
https://twitter.com/FarryFaz/status/1430969080778006528?s
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 09/25/2021 08:12 am
https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/1441435238626996225

Quote
Fresh numbers on Blue Origin's Florida footprint via Space Florida:

– KSC / Cape facilities, initially planned for about 275,000 square feet, now exceed 1 million

– 735 direct jobs

– $1.03 billion invested so far
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 10/11/2021 01:49 am
https://twitter.com/Mike_Seeley/status/1447372495724625922?s
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 10/24/2021 12:44 am
An update on the 2nd Stage Cleaning and Testing Facility, mentioned here https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40620.msg2282804#msg2282804

https://twitter.com/FarryFaz/status/1451968897045995534?s
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: JCRM on 10/24/2021 11:31 pm
An update on the 2nd Stage Cleaning and Testing Facility, mentioned here https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40620.msg2282804#msg2282804

https://twitter.com/FarryFaz/status/1451968897045995534?s
Landing pad for Bezos' support yacht helicopter?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 12/03/2021 08:20 am
About two weeks late to this, but definitely worth noting. All the quoted text below was taken from the Environmental Resource Management Plan PDF which is right below this paragraph, I just grabbed what stood out to me. I'd recommend looking through all the PDFs as there's a lot of plans to look at!

Environmental Resource Management Plan: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/apps/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&coreContentOnly=1&RevisionSelectionMethod=Latest&allowInterrupt=1&dDocName=EREG_7403057
Site plans with full resolution drawings: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/apps/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&coreContentOnly=1&RevisionSelectionMethod=Latest&allowInterrupt=1&dDocName=EREG_7403053
Full permit here: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/ep/#/prmtInfo?curId=&hdr=1&usrId=0&offclId=143199&seqNo=14


"2022-23 South Campus Improvements

Blue Origin Florida, LLC (Blue Origin) proposes to continue development of the South Campus area of the OLS Manufacturing Complex (OLSMC). The proposed project provides for development of programs previously identified for the
property. The facilities will provide for the manufacture and provisioning of commercial space launch vehicles. The proposed improvements shall include site development for three proposed buildings (Chemical Processing Facility, Manufacturing Factory A & Warehouse Expansion A) and shall include earthwork preparations for near future facilities.

PROJECT SCHEDULE
The 2022-23 South Campus Improvements for the OLS Manufacturing Complex will be executed with the intention of beginning support of space vehicle manufacturing support in late 2022. The construction schedule is summarized as follows: First image attached below

Future Campus Projects - In the future, the South Campus will include the
following improvements:
• Future Manufacturing Facilities – 2024-25 Building additions,
approximately 300,000 sq. ft.
• Improvements to Ransom Road"

There's a lot more in the documents! I'm wondering if these facilities would be for Orbital Reef or the Lunar Lander work. Exciting!  :)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 02/15/2022 10:34 am
...
"2022-23 South Campus Improvements

Blue Origin Florida, LLC (Blue Origin) proposes to continue development of the South Campus area of the OLS Manufacturing Complex (OLSMC). The proposed project provides for development of programs previously identified for the property. The facilities will provide for the manufacture and provisioning of commercial space launch vehicles. The proposed improvements shall include site development for three proposed buildings (Chemical Processing Facility, Manufacturing Factory A & Warehouse Expansion A) and shall include earthwork preparations for near future facilities.

Updated site plans were posted on the 11th of this month with a few extra buildings and modifications.

Permit: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/ep/#/prmtInfo?curId=&hdr=1&usrId=0&offclId=143199&seqNo=16
Direct link to the full resolution plans PDF: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/apps/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&coreContentOnly=1&RevisionSelectionMethod=Latest&allowInterrupt=1&dDocName=EREG_7464260
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Chris Bergin on 02/17/2022 05:54 pm
Lots of views in this flyover of Blue (and obviously the other areas such as SpaceX Roberts Road).

https://twitter.com/TheFavoritist/status/1494382090263146499

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMUX67Ts-nk
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 02/20/2022 09:02 am
Plans submitted for yet another building :) Labelled as a 'C.A. Building'.

2nd image below gives context as to where the building will be located.

Permit: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/ep/#/prmtInfo?curId=&hdr=1&usrId=0&offclId=143199&seqNo=18
Direct link to plans: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/apps/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&coreContentOnly=1&RevisionSelectionMethod=Latest&allowInterrupt=1&dDocName=EREG_7470338
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 07/31/2022 10:25 pm
https://twitter.com/felixschlang/status/1553869051952336896

Quote
More pictures from WAI flyover #1!

We, of course, also took some pictures of Blue Origin!

📸@SchlangStefanie for WAI Media
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Rakietwawka2021 on 08/01/2022 12:23 pm
Quite old are these photos. 2TCAT is nearly complete at the moment
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Robert_the_Doll on 08/01/2022 05:39 pm
https://twitter.com/Mike_Seeley/status/1447372495724625922?s

That is the interstage/forward module of the New Glenn first stage. It looks as though the TCAT1 is apparently being used to do structural testing on it.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 08/01/2022 05:50 pm
Quite old are these photos. 2TCAT is nearly complete at the moment

According to this tweet, the flyover was yesterday:

https://twitter.com/felixschlang/status/1553868473108930561
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 08/04/2022 01:55 am
https://twitter.com/gregscott_photo/status/1554964774198321152

Quote
Also covering Blue Origin pad & site construction. I would like to thank everyone for watching & as always if you like the pics please hit the follow button & check my Patreon patreon.com/GregScott_Photo to help support the pics
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: DrHeywoodFloyd on 08/04/2022 03:31 am
With the recent pictures...

https://twitter.com/GregScott_photo/status/1554964774198321152/photo/3 (https://twitter.com/GregScott_photo/status/1554964774198321152/photo/3)

 Are they assembling the New Glenn pad transporter/erector? This is Photo 3, see attached...


Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: chopsticks on 08/04/2022 03:46 am
With the recent pictures...

https://twitter.com/GregScott_photo/status/1554964774198321152/photo/3 (https://twitter.com/GregScott_photo/status/1554964774198321152/photo/3)

 Are they assembling the New Glenn pad transporter/erector? This is Photo 3, see attached...
These are the chopstick parts for SpaceX.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 08/19/2022 08:28 pm
https://twitter.com/farryfaz/status/1560644685487640576

Quote
@blueorigin flyover with @GregScott_photo
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Robert_the_Doll on 08/19/2022 10:21 pm
Something we have waited for a very long time....
https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1560652119036002304
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 08/25/2022 08:21 am
Updated site plans were posted on the 11th of this month with a few extra buildings and modifications.

Permit: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/ep/#/prmtInfo?curId=&hdr=1&usrId=0&offclId=143199&seqNo=16
Direct link to the full resolution plans PDF: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/apps/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&coreContentOnly=1&RevisionSelectionMethod=Latest&allowInterrupt=1&dDocName=EREG_7464260
Further updated plans. Looks like some early 'pathfinder' Orbital Reef buildings with room to expand in the future.

Permit: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/ep/#/prmtInfo?curId=&hdr=1&usrId=0&offclId=143199&seqNo=23
Direct link to full resolution plans PDF: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/apps/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&coreContentOnly=1&RevisionSelectionMethod=Latest&allowInterrupt=1&dDocName=EREG_7625958
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: catdlr on 08/25/2022 08:29 am
The overall plans above indicate an "Assemble Plant" and warehouse, not manufacturing.   Are we sure there is not another location in the USA where BlueOrigin is manufacturing the rocket(s) components (in secret) and shipping them here for final assembly?
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Vahe231991 on 08/25/2022 04:00 pm
The overall plans above indicate an "Assemble Plant" and warehouse, not manufacturing.   Are we sure there is not another location in the USA where BlueOrigin is manufacturing the rocket(s) components (in secret) and shipping them here for final assembly?
Blue Origin has a manufacturing facility for the forthcoming New Glenn SLV at Exploration Park. These link should be quite helpful to figuring out which manufacturing plants at Exploration Park are for manufacturing individual rocket components and which plant is for final assembly:
https://www.assemblymag.com/articles/96319-blue-origin-to-expand-rocket-manufacturing-facility-at-kennedy-space-center
https://spaceexplored.com/2021/06/01/a-guide-to-blue-origin-florida-manufacturing-and-launching-new-glenn/
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Jim on 08/25/2022 05:47 pm
The overall plans above indicate an "Assemble Plant" and warehouse, not manufacturing.   Are we sure there is not another location in the USA where BlueOrigin is manufacturing the rocket(s) components (in secret) and shipping them here for final assembly?

That is just the south campus and not the north campus which has manufacturing.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: shintoo on 08/25/2022 08:01 pm
Updated site plans were posted on the 11th of this month with a few extra buildings and modifications.

Permit: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/ep/#/prmtInfo?curId=&hdr=1&usrId=0&offclId=143199&seqNo=16
Direct link to the full resolution plans PDF: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/apps/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&coreContentOnly=1&RevisionSelectionMethod=Latest&allowInterrupt=1&dDocName=EREG_7464260
Further updated plans. Looks like some early 'pathfinder' Orbital Reef buildings with room to expand in the future.

Permit: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/ep/#/prmtInfo?curId=&hdr=1&usrId=0&offclId=143199&seqNo=23
Direct link to full resolution plans PDF: https://permitting.sjrwmd.com/apps/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&coreContentOnly=1&RevisionSelectionMethod=Latest&allowInterrupt=1&dDocName=EREG_7625958

So is the building a pathfinder, or is it a building for a reef pathfinder?  ;D

Seems odd to me that a building would be built for a pathfinder, but perhaps that is just the designation before it is expanded for actual reef assembly (speculation).

Curious how much of Reef will be built here vs elsewhere.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: catdlr on 08/25/2022 10:22 pm
The overall plans above indicate an "Assemble Plant" and warehouse, not manufacturing.   Are we sure there is not another location in the USA where BlueOrigin is manufacturing the rocket(s) components (in secret) and shipping them here for final assembly?

That is just the south campus and not the north campus which has manufacturing.

Thanks, Jim.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: harrystranger on 08/25/2022 10:59 pm


So is the building a pathfinder, or is it a building for a reef pathfinder?  ;D

Seems odd to me that a building would be built for a pathfinder, but perhaps that is just the designation before it is expanded for actual reef assembly (speculation).

Curious how much of Reef will be built here vs elsewhere.
The text that I bolded from your message is also my guess. These plans are labelled as '2022-2023', and there is another older set of plans labelled '2022-2024' (see image below) which I'm assuming will be the next phase of expansion.
I assume they'll release updated plans for this that will work better with the new plans. But yeah, something to keep an eye on :)
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 09/21/2022 01:51 pm
https://twitter.com/farryfaz/status/1572583316016234499

Quote
Blue Origin keeps on growing. @GregScott_photo
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 10/28/2022 01:37 pm
https://twitter.com/gregscott_photo/status/1585988084134387712
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 11/26/2022 10:13 am
https://twitter.com/gregscott_photo/status/1596209781999816705

Quote
I would like to thank everyone for watching & as always if you like the pics please hit the FOLLOW button! & check my Patreon at patreon.com/GregScott_Photo for many more hi resolution pictures & to help support the expenses of the flyovers. Every bit helps.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Rakietwawka2021 on 01/15/2023 07:14 pm
https://youtu.be/ARgaBvAFxl8
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 03/17/2023 02:54 pm
https://youtu.be/uYWrwyzwEmg
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: whitelancer64 on 03/18/2023 12:46 am
Blue Origin segment starts at 8:30 and goes to 11:00
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 07/16/2023 04:00 am
https://twitter.com/gregscott_photo/status/1680356444430901248

Quote
Construction uptick at #SpaceX's Roberts Rd & #BlueOrigin's campus on todays flyover. Hangar X is active again with (LC-40 Crew?) tower sections being built. @blueorigin putting the sides on the new VIF & a new strongback @ the pad. The Artemis Mobile launcher is still under repair. #ULA's Vulcan sits inside its VIF & much more. w/@FarryFaz 1/2
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Robert_the_Doll on 07/16/2023 04:21 pm
The Second Stage mockup is in the lower left by the hanger corner and it looks like a lot of work is going on at the launch mount there, probably getting ready to mate it to the Transporter Erector.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 08/22/2023 03:58 pm
https://twitter.com/gregscott_photo/status/1693998357893828671

Quote
Blue Origins new VIF building (on NASA property) is sporting some new graphics as of late, showing that completion is near. #BlueOrigin #NASA
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 10/05/2023 04:23 pm
https://youtu.be/dX5YyEIrQeE

Quote
Florida’s Space Coast is always abuzz with launch activity but when you get to fly over it, you realize there’s a lot more than meets the eye. In our latest Cape Flyover we were able to spot new rocket hardware arriving, new structures rising from the ground, intriguing movements from Blue Origin, and a whole lot more. We’ll also take a look at what’s gonna be up next with Starship activity at the Cape - you may be surprised.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: Robert_the_Doll on 10/05/2023 07:17 pm
Really makes you wonder if they will stack both simulators and the qualification fairings on the Big TE for a rollout. The Mini-TE being at the pad like this for so long seems to support the rumor from sources that the second stage will go out to LC-36 first.
Title: Re: Blue Origin Manufacturing site in Florida
Post by: FutureSpaceTourist on 01/10/2024 07:28 pm
Crosspost:

https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1745177094055993480

Quote
New Glenn’s first stage on the move today – from our factory to Launch Complex 36.