NASA Retrofits Stennis B-2 Pad for New Glenn Tests as Blue Origin Rebuilds Its Only Launch Site
Updated
Updated · Jalopnik · Jul 30
NASA Retrofits Stennis B-2 Pad for New Glenn Tests as Blue Origin Rebuilds Its Only Launch Site
2 articles · Updated · Jalopnik · Jul 30
Summary
NASA will modify the B-2 test stand at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi so Blue Origin can resume New Glenn upper-stage testing after its launchpad was destroyed.
The move addresses a critical bottleneck: Blue Origin lost the only pad able to handle New Glenn, threatening progress on a rocket tied to NASA's lunar plans.
Stennis will support testing only, not launches, but it lets work continue while Blue Origin rebuilds and redesigns its damaged pad for the next New Glenn variant.
The site previously tested Saturn V, Space Shuttle and Space Launch System hardware; New Glenn will be the first private rocket program to use it.
Blue Origin is one of NASA's key commercial lunar partners, and the company is aiming to fly New Glenn again by the end of the year ahead of Artemis-linked milestones.