The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) has awarded a second infrastructure enhancement agreement to Blue Origin under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. The new cooperative agreement aims to expand launch vehicle processing capabilities at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS), as Blue Origin prepares its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket for national security and commercial missions.
Second Cooperative Agreement Targets Vehicle Processing Expansion
On May 7, 2024, SSC announced the award of a second Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA)-like deal with Blue Origin through the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 initiative. The agreement is valued at $5 million and focuses on enhancing infrastructure for launch vehicle processing at LC-36 and associated support facilities at CCSFS.
This follows an earlier $5 million award in September 2023 that targeted upgrades to Blue Origin’s payload processing facility and integration infrastructure. Together, these agreements represent a strategic investment by SSC in expanding the industrial base of certified launch providers capable of supporting national security payloads.
“This second award builds on our strategy to diversify and expand the NSSL provider base,” said Col. Douglas Pentecost, deputy program executive officer for Assured Access to Space. “We are investing in infrastructure that enables emerging providers like Blue Origin to meet rigorous mission assurance requirements.”
New Glenn Positioned for Future National Security Missions
Blue Origin’s New Glenn is a heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle designed with a reusable first stage and a seven-meter payload fairing—significantly larger than competitors like Falcon 9 or Vulcan Centaur. Though New Glenn has not yet flown as of mid-2024, it remains in advanced stages of development and is expected to conduct its maiden flight later this year or early next.
The infrastructure enhancements funded by SSC are intended to accelerate New Glenn’s readiness for certification under NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 contracts beginning in FY25. Lane 1 is designed for emerging providers who can offer flexible launch options for less time-critical national security payloads.
Blue Origin was one of several companies selected in October 2023 under the first round of Lane 1 awards alongside Rocket Lab and United Launch Alliance (ULA). These awards allow companies to compete for up to $100 million annually through FY27 for lower-risk missions while building toward full mission assurance certification required under Lane 2.
Cape Canaveral Infrastructure Modernization Underway
The latest agreement will support upgrades across multiple key facilities:
- Launch Complex-36 (LC-36): Originally built for Atlas-Centaur missions during the Cold War era, LC-36 has been extensively redeveloped by Blue Origin since acquiring it in 2015. The funding will enhance vehicle integration areas and ground support systems tailored for New Glenn operations.
- Payload Processing Facility: Improvements include cleanroom upgrades and handling systems compatible with sensitive DoD payloads requiring high levels of environmental control.
- Integration & Checkout Facilities: Enhancements aim to streamline horizontal integration processes prior to vertical stacking on the pad—a key requirement given New Glenn’s size and modular design philosophy.
This modernization aligns with broader SSC efforts across both coasts—Cape Canaveral SFS in Florida and Vandenberg SFB in California—to ensure resilient access-to-space capabilities amid growing demand from DoD, intelligence community users, and allied partners.
NSSL Phase 3 Strategy: Diversification Meets Mission Assurance
The NSSL Phase 3 acquisition strategy splits procurement into two lanes:
- Lane 1: Focused on lower-risk missions using commercially available services from emerging providers; allows rapid task ordering without full mission assurance requirements initially.
- Lane 2: Reserved for high-priority national security payloads requiring full certification; contracts expected by late FY24 or early FY25 following competitive downselects.
The dual-lane structure aims to balance innovation with reliability by onboarding new entrants while maintaining assured access via incumbents like ULA and potentially SpaceX. By investing early in infrastructure upgrades through CRADA-style agreements, SSC hopes to reduce barriers-to-entry while ensuring providers can scale up quickly once certified.
Strategic Implications: Resilience Through Competition
The enhanced partnership between SSC and Blue Origin reflects broader strategic shifts within U.S. space acquisition policy—namely an emphasis on resilience through diversified launch options amid rising threats from anti-satellite weapons and contested space domains.
If successfully integrated into the NSSL ecosystem, New Glenn would provide critical redundancy alongside Vulcan Centaur (ULA) and Falcon Heavy (SpaceX), especially as legacy platforms like Atlas V phase out due to reliance on Russian-made RD-180 engines.
This move also supports broader industrial base goals outlined in recent DoD reports emphasizing supply chain robustness, domestic propulsion development, and reduced reliance on single-source vendors—all central themes post-Ukraine invasion geopolitical realignments.
Outlook: First Flight Milestone Critical for Certification Pathway
The key inflection point remains New Glenn’s inaugural flight—currently anticipated no earlier than Q4 CY2024 based on recent statements from Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp during industry events such as Satellite Conference & Expo. Successful demonstration flights will be critical before any operational DoD task orders can be assigned under Lane 1 contracts.
If milestones are met on schedule—and if ground systems funded via these cooperative agreements come online as planned—Blue Origin could become a viable competitor not only within NSSL but also NASA science missions or commercial satellite constellations seeking large-volume lift capacity beyond Falcon-class vehicles.
Sustaining Momentum Through Public-Private Investment
The dual CRADA-style investments totaling $10 million underscore how modest public funding can catalyze significant private-sector capability development when aligned with shared objectives such as assured access-to-space. For SSC, it represents cost-effective risk reduction; for Blue Origin, it accelerates path-to-market readiness without waiting on full-rate production contracts upfront.
