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Blue Origin Blew Up Its Launch Pad, So NASA Will Invite Its Rockets Over For Testing
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket launchpad was destroyed in a failed launch, posing a significant setback as it was the only pad capable of accommodating the rocket and critical for NASA's Moon missions.
- NASA is assisting Blue Origin by retrofitting its B-2 testing pad at the Stennis Space Center, historically used for Saturn V, Space Shuttle, and Space Launch System testing, to support New Glenn's upper stage testing.
- This marks the first time a private company's rocket will use the Stennis site, reflecting NASA's strategy to collaborate closely with commercial space enterprises to accelerate progress.
- Blue Origin is a key player in NASA's Artemis program, aiming to return humans to the Moon with its Blue Moon lander, competing with SpaceX's Starship for lunar landing contracts.
- Despite the setback, Blue Origin is rebuilding its launchpad and plans to resume New Glenn flights by the end of the year, with upper stage tests conducted at Stennis to ensure readiness.
