Groundbreaking set this week for Alabama rocket engine plant

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Jeff Bezos Blue Origin
Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos at the company's Texas launch facility. [Photo Credit: Blue Origin]

A company founded by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos will break ground in Alabama later this week on a plant to build a new rocket engine.

Al.com reported that Blue Origin’s groundbreaking is set Friday in Huntsville.

The plant will make Blue Origin’s BE-4 engine, which will power the next generation of rockets produced by United Launch Alliance in Decatur.

The engine will be powered by liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas.

Blue Origin said in 2017 it would locate in Alabama near the Decatur ULA plant.

The engine will also power Blue Origin’s next-generation New Glenn rocket. That rocket is under development.

The company said the plant will have about 340 employees and cost about $200 million.

The rocket will be assembled in Florida near Kennedy Space Center launch site.

Republished with permission from the Associated Press.