Blue Origin has marked a significant achievement with the successful launch of its New Glenn heavy lifter on Thursday, which included the first successful landing of its reusable booster at sea. This launch brings the company closer to receiving certification from the Space Force to begin launching critical national security payloads.
In April, the Space Force awarded Blue Origin an initial contract, allowing it to compete for National Security Space Launch Program (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 2 contracts for launches scheduled between fiscal years 2025 and 2029. At that time, New Glenn had not yet completed the second launch necessary for NSSL flight certification. The NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 launches are crucial as they involve high-value payloads and missions that require more complex orbital placements.
Space Systems Command (SSC) typically contracts for NSSL launches two years in advance. This means that the contract awards would apply to missions actually conducted between FY27 and FY32. New Glenn’s first certification flight took place on January 16, and the company had originally planned to conduct the second launch in the spring of this year. With the successful flight on Thursday, which transported two spacecraft built by Rocket Lab for NASA’s ESCAPADE Mars mission, the Space Force is now entering the final stages of its review process.
“Space Systems Command continues its process of certifying New Glenn for National Security Space Launches after the successful NG-2 launch,” the Space Force stated in a press release. The release emphasized that certification flights are a crucial part of the overall certification process, providing essential analytical data to ensure that each launch system meets the demands of U.S. national security.
The landing of New Glenn’s reusable first-stage booster on Blue Origin’s recovery ship, named Jacklyn in honor of owner Jeff Bezos‘ mother, marks a significant achievement for the company. This accomplishment makes Blue Origin only the second company to successfully land a booster of this size at sea. SpaceX, led by Bezos’ competitor Elon Musk, pioneered reusable first stages and has successfully recaptured them multiple times following launches of its Falcon 9 rocket.
During the launch broadcast, Blue Origin highlighted that this successful landing came after only one previous attempt during its January launch. “[N]ever before in history has a booster this large nailed the landing on the second try. This is just the beginning as we rapidly scale our flight cadence and continue delivering for our customers,” said Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, in the press release.
The current NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 award has the Space Force expecting to commission Blue Origin for approximately seven missions starting in FY26. In comparison, SpaceX is anticipated to conduct 28 missions, while the United Launch Alliance is projected to complete 19 missions in the same period.
As Blue Origin progresses towards NSSL certification, the successful second launch of New Glenn not only demonstrates the company’s growing capabilities but also enhances its position in the competitive landscape of national security space launches.
