Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket to Compete for $5.6B Pentagon Contract

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket Selected for $5.6 Billion Pentagon Contracts

The Department of Defense has recently announced its inclusion of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket in the competition for national security space launch contracts, potentially worth up to $5.6 billion. This presents a significant opportunity for the Jeff Bezos-founded company to compete against established players like SpaceX and United Launch Alliance.

Key Takeaways

• Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is now eligible for national security space launch contracts, valued up to $5.6 billion.
• The Phase 3 Lane 1 procurement process runs through 2029, with an optional five-year extension.
• Blue Origin will receive $5 million for an initial capabilities assessment, while SpaceX and ULA get $1.5 million each.
• New Glenn's first launch, set for no earlier than September, will send robotic probes to study Mars' magnetosphere for NASA.
• The Pentagon's Phase 3 program introduces a dual-lane approach, with Lane 1 for commercial-like missions and Lane 2 for heavy-lift, high-risk missions.

Analysis

The inclusion of Blue Origin in the Pentagon's national security launch contract competition signals a notable shift in the space launch industry. This move directly impacts SpaceX and United Launch Alliance, increasing competition in the field. The dual-lane approach of the Phase 3 program fosters market diversification and encourages technological advancement, potentially leading to a more competitive and innovative space industry in the long run.

Did You Know?

• New Glenn Rocket: Blue Origin's New Glenn is a reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle designed for sending large payloads into space. It features a first stage powered by seven BE-4 engines and a second stage with a single BE-3U engine, capable of lifting over 45 metric tons to low Earth orbit.
• Phase 3 Program: The U.S. Department of Defense's procurement strategy for national security space launches divided into two lanes: Lane 1 for missions tolerant to risk and Lane 2 for heavy-lift missions.
• EscaPADE Mission: A NASA mission aimed at understanding the Martian magnetosphere by studying the transfer of energy and momentum between the solar wind and Mars' atmosphere.