FAA approves Blue Origin’s New Glenn for maiden flight
A Blue Origin New Shepard rocket launches from Launch Site One in West Texas north of Van Horn on March 31, 2022. The NS-20 mission carries Blue Origin's New Shepard Chief Architect Gary Lai, Marty Allen, Sharon Hagle, Marc Hagle, Jim Kitchen, and Dr
ORLANDO, Fla. - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted a Part 450 commercial space launch license to Blue Origin, authorizing the first flight of its New Glenn rocket, the agency announced Wednesday.
The license, valid for five years, permits Blue Origin to conduct orbital launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The reusable first stage of the New Glenn rocket is designed to land on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean.
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"The FAA is committed to enabling the success of the U.S. commercial space transportation industry without compromising public safety," said Kelvin B. Coleman, the FAA’s associate administrator for commercial space transportation. "By working closely with Blue Origin, the FAA issued this new launch license well in advance of the statutory deadline for the historic maiden flight of New Glenn."
To obtain the license, Blue Origin met all necessary safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements, according to the FAA.
New Glenn, named after astronaut John Glenn, is a next-generation heavy-lift launch vehicle designed to carry both cargo and crew into orbit. The maiden flight will mark a significant milestone for the company as it continues to compete in the growing commercial space sector.