In a significant leap forward for commercial spaceflight, Blue Origin has been granted a commercial space launch license by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its New Glenn rocket. This milestone marks Blue Origin's entry into the competitive arena of national security space missions, alongside industry giants SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA).
The FAA's five-year license permits Blue Origin to conduct orbital missions from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. A standout feature of the New Glenn mission is its reusable first stage, which is designed to land on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean, showcasing the company's commitment to sustainability and innovation.
The upcoming debut of New Glenn is not just a launch; it's a certification mission mandated by the U.S. Space Force. Success in this mission will pave the way for Blue Origin to begin deploying national security satellites, a critical component of the Department of Defense's $5.6 billion space program initiated in June.
Originally slated to carry NASA's Mars spacecraft by late October, the New Glenn launch was postponed due to developmental delays. Instead, the rocket will now launch technology integral to Blue Origin's Blue Ring program, which focuses on maneuverable spacecraft for Pentagon missions.
While SpaceX continues to dominate with its Falcon 9 and the groundbreaking Starship, which recently achieved a successful booster return to its Texas launch pad, Blue Origin is making strategic moves to enhance its competitiveness. Last December, Blue Origin enlisted Amazon veteran Dave Limp to accelerate the development of New Glenn, signaling the company's determination to secure a prominent position in the rapidly evolving space industry.
As the race to the stars intensifies, Blue Origin's FAA license approval is a testament to its resilience and innovation, setting the stage for a new chapter in commercial and national security space missions.
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Blue Origin gets FAA license for its first New Glenn rocket launch
cgtn.com
