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Blue Origin breaks ground on Huntsville rocket engine plant

A Saturn V rocket, which was designed in Huntsville during the 1960s space race, sits at the U.S. Space and Rocket Museum.
A Saturn V rocket, which was designed in Huntsville during the 1960s space race, sits at the U.S. Space and Rocket Museum. A Saturn V rocket, which was designed in Huntsville during the 1960s space race, sits at the U.S. Space and Rocket Museum.

By Associated Press 2 min read

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A rocket company founded by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos broke ground Friday on a new $200 million engine plant in north Alabama.

Company and government officials attended the groundbreaking ceremony in Huntsville for the rocket engine plant. The facility will make Blue Origin’s BE-4 engine to power a new generation of launch vehicles produced by United Launch Alliance.

“It’s a great day here in Rocket City,” Blue Origin CEO Bob Smith said at the groundbreaking ceremony, according to news outlets.

Huntsville has had the nickname Rocket City for the city’s longstanding ties to the nation’s space program.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey’s office said the project will create more than 300 jobs in Huntsville.