The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company, a commercial space launch license for its New Glenn rocket. This approval is a key milestone as Blue Origin joins SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) in competing for lucrative national security space missions, specifically under a $5.6 billion Pentagon program. The company can now conduct orbital missions from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, with the New Glenn rocket’s first stage designed to land on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean.
Blue Origin’s inaugural flight will serve as a certification mission for the U.S. Space Force, which must approve the rocket before it can carry national security payloads. Originally intended to launch two NASA spacecraft to Mars, this mission was delayed due to development setbacks, and NASA switched the payload to another rocket. Instead, New Glenn’s first mission will carry technology related to Blue Origin’s Blue Ring program, designed to offer maneuverable spacecraft services to the Pentagon.
While SpaceX leads the commercial space market with its Falcon 9 and Starship rockets, Blue Origin has faced delays in bringing New Glenn to market. However, the FAA approval represents significant progress for the company as it competes for government contracts, positioning New Glenn as a serious contender in the space industry.
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