ArcJet Systems

ArcJet Systems was a pre-War military and civilian aerospace contractor in the United States, specializing in communications, propulsion systems and custom-built high-tech aviation equipment. This large facility now lays abandoned in the Commonwealth.

Background
In 2075, ArcJet began working on a nuclear-powered rocket, the XMB booster engine, in hopes of convincing the United States Space Administration to award them the lucrative contract for their Mars Shot Project. Despite the risk of starting work before the contract, it paid off when the USSA gave them both the contract for the booster engine and the contract for a deep range transmitter. Both projects were completed before 2077. However, ArcJet only received payment for the deep range transmitter project, as the rocket was delayed prior to the Great War due to problems on the western front. CEO Thomas Reinhardt promised the USSA to finish both projects by July 2077, a year before the expected launch date.

Eager to deliver on its first Agency contract, CEO Reinhardt hired Dr. Rory McClellan, a private military contractor, to lead the development of the XMB booster engine. Reinhardt also ordered head of security, Sam Brent, to double the facility's security and install automated security systems. By December, both of their projects were on schedule, and even under budget, and the USSA was discussing the possibility of other future projects.

In February 2076, the XMB suffered a setback when it was discovered that it was hundreds of tons over the weight allowance demanded by USSA, setting them potentially three to six months behind schedule. Reinhardt also became increasingly paranoid about security, having turrets installed in the office areas and requiring everyone to wear special identification badges or risk being fired upon. In July, the USSA announced the Mars Shot Project to the public, resulting in an increase of popularity and media coverage at ArcJet, causing Reinhardt to lie about their progress. In November, McClellan was able to fix the engine's weight issue, allowing ArcJet to finalize the project.

By 2077, ArcJet was able to complete the deep range transmitter project, allowing them to earn the proceeds from their contract. In February 2077, ArcJet planned to hold a press event to show off the first USSA test fire of the XMB booster engine. However, before the event, a reporter somehow managed to sneak into the core engine room and was accidentally vaporized by an engine test. The press event was cancelled and Reinhardt ordered Sam Brent to cover the death up to prevent them from losing their contract. By September, the USSA warned Reinhardt that they may have to delay the Mars Shot Project due to the conflicts overseas.

In October, Dr. McClellan discovered the cover up of the dead reporter and told Reinhardt he was going to inform the police. Reinhardt responded by threatening to kill McClellan and his family if he told anyone. Despite this, McClellan still planned to take the video evidence to the press.

Layout
The layout of the building differs, depending on whether or not the Call to Arms quest has been started. Prior to starting the quest, the building will only consist of the main lobby and a corridor leading to a collapsed room. Once the quest has been started, the whole building will be accessible and infested by synths.

Upper floors
The upper floors of the building have suffered massive internal damage, making it a maze of collapsed floors and ceilings. This area consists of a main lobby area, offices, restrooms, data storage, and board rooms.

After passing the lab control room is a lobby defended by two ceiling mounted machine gun turrets and a handful of synths. This lobby gives access to several rooms which contain a weapons workbench, an armor workbench and a chemistry station. In the room with the chemistry station, an Expert locked terminal can be used to unlock a nearby Expert locked safe. In the eastern room, some stairs are leading up to the office area.

The office area is first accessed through the CEO's office, in which the Tesla Science Magazine issue #1 can be found. The corridors are heavily defended by 4 ceiling mounted turrets although they can be deactivated from a terminal located in the first room on the left hand side. In the northwest corner, a collapsed floor gives access to the receptionist area where a Advanced locked safe can be found and where stairs lead down to the ArcJet engine core.

ArcJet engine core
Beneath the main building is a large rocket engine test chamber. The XMB booster engine can be found suspended from the ceiling. At the bottom of the chamber is a facilities terminal inside a small control room that can be used to restore auxiliary power. The engine is still functional and can be activated by pressing the start button in this control room once power is restored. The engine will test fire and the intense flames from will turn all synths inside the chamber to piles of ash. This can only be done once and cannot be repeated.

The only way to access the top section of the chamber is to ride the elevator due to collapsed stairs. At the top is a main control room and multiple synth enemies. Here one can find the deep range transmitter and an elevator to the surface.

Related quests

 * Variable Removal - The Railroad may send the Sole Survivor to this location to eliminate a Courser.
 * Call to Arms

Appearances
ArcJet Systems appears only in Fallout 4. The ArcJet G-Force attraction is also sponsored by ArcJet in the Fallout 4 add-on Nuka-World.

Behind the scenes
The name ArcJet may be a reference to the Arcjet rocket, an engine produced by Lockheed Martin by the same name.

Alternatively, the company's name might be a reference to Aerojet (now Aerojet Rocketdyne, note the similarity in Arcjet and Aerojet's corporate logo). The company was one of the contractors during the NERVA program and is part of the modern day research modern iteration the engine which is also intended for use on a Mars mission.

Bugs

 * P.A.M. can give the missions to kill Coursers (Railroad) in this location but you won't have access to most areas yet due to another companion mission not being completed yet. This will leave you unable to finish the mission.
 * This can be fixed by using a power armor glitch. Simply face the broken door in third-person, aim your gun to push yourself into the door a little, hold the button to exit the power armor, then turn your back to the door. If done right, you will get out through the door. This will however start Call to Arms and cause Paladin Danse to show up but attempt to leave. The quest cannot be finished this way however.
 * In the Engine Core section, when you activate the rocket engine while the quest Call to Arms is not activated and Paladin Danse is not in the room, companions will get stuck in the observation room. Reloading an earlier save is the only way to fix them.
 * The project manager's terminal will show [EXPERT] to unlock, but the Sole Survivor will be unable to hack it with only rank 2 of the Hacker perk.