Blue Origin announces plans for rocket engine plant in Alabama

Private spaceflight company Blue Origin has announced plans to open a rocket engine production plant in Huntsville, Ala., pending the signing of a production contract with United Launch Alliance, a private satellite launching company.

The $200 million factory will manufacture the BE-4 rocket engine, designed to end dependence on Russian-built engines for launching payloads into space. It is expected to employ up to 350 people producing up to 30 engines a year.