Blue Origin

New Shepard sets reusability mark on latest suborbital spaceflight
Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital vehicle made its first flight in more than seven months Dec. 11 as the company inches closer to flying people to the edge of space.

In protest decision, GAO negates Blue Origin’s claim that Air Force launch procurement favors incumbents
GAO disagreed with Blue Origin that the terms of the launch procurement unduly restrict competition

ULA gets vague on Vulcan upgrade timeline
As United Launch Alliance prepares for the maiden flight of its Vulcan Centaur rocket, the company no longer has a clear timeline for a major second-stage upgrade.

NASA adds five companies to commercial lunar lander program
NASA announced Nov. 18 that it was adding five companies to a contract to perform commercial deliveries of payloads to the surface of the moon, a group that ranges from small ventures to Blue Origin and SpaceX.

GAO sides with Blue Origin in protest of Air Force launch contract rules
GAO said in a statement that the agency on Nov. 18 sustained the protest filed by Blue Origin on Aug. 12.

Blue Origin, Lockheed, Northrop join forces for Artemis lunar lander
Blue Origin is joining forces with three other major aerospace firms in a “national team” to develop a human lunar lander for NASA.

Blue Origin may miss goal of crewed suborbital flights in 2019
The chief executive of Blue Origin said Oct. 2 it was increasingly unlikely the company would start flying people on its New Shepard suborbital vehicle by the end of this year as it ensures the vehicle is safe enough.

Blue Origin and SpaceX among winners of NASA exploration technology contracts
NASA announced Sept. 27 the award of more than $40 million in contracts to 14 companies, including Blue Origin and SpaceX, to develop technologies that can support NASA’s long-term exploration plans.

Blue Origin steps up call for change in Air Force launch procurement plan
Blue Origin is further pressing its case for the Air Force to open up the Phase 2 launch procurement to more competitors.

Launch companies look to government customers for stability
With the size and growth of commercial markets uncertain, launch companies are looking to government agencies to varying degrees for stability and funding for the development of new vehicles.

ULA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman submit bids for national security launch procurement contract
ULA and SpaceX currently launch the bulk of U.S. national security satellites while Northrop Grumman and Blue Origin are looking to break in.

Blue Origin files protest over ‘flawed’ Air Force launch procurement
Blue Origin filed a “pre-award” protest with the GAO, arguing that the rules set by the Air Force do not allow for a fair and open competition.

Blue Origin and SpaceX among winners of NASA technology agreements for lunar landers and launch vehicles
Blue Origin and SpaceX have secured multiple agreements with NASA intended to support the development of technologies for launch vehicles and lunar landers.

NASA outlines plans for lunar lander development through commercial partnerships
As NASA celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first crewed landing on the moon, the agency released new details about how it will procure landers to enable humans to return to the moon in the 2020s.

Vandenberg wooing tenants as launch activity slows down
30th Space Wing commander: “In order to achieve polar orbit there is no better place to be than Vandenberg."

Blue Origin performs first test of BE-7 lunar lander engine
Blue Origin has performed the first hotfire test of the engine it plans to use on its Blue Moon lunar lander.