Photo By Senior Airman Samuel Becker | A New Glenn rocket launches from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force...... read more read more
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CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, Fla. – Space Launch Delta 45 supported the maiden flight of Blue Origin's New Glenn from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on Jan. 13. The orbital-class rocket, named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, marked the first launch from Space Launch Complex 36 in 20 years.
The complex, originally built in 1961 to support the Atlas-Centaur family of launch vehicles, was decommissioned and its facilities dismantled after its final Atlas launch in 2005. In 2015, the complex was leased to Blue Origin, and construction began to rebuild the site to support the New Glenn reusable launch vehicle.
The NG-1 mission also served as the first of Blue Origin's certification flights needed for the National Security Space Launch program, which is managed by the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command in partnership with the National Reconnaissance Office. The program's mission is to acquire launch services to provide critical space support for Defense Department warfighters, national security and other government spacelift missions, while fostering interagency and commercial cooperation.
To carry national security payloads into space, commercial launch partners like Blue Origin must execute a successful certification process.
These commercial partnerships serve as a vital force multiplier, significantly enhancing the U.S. Space Force's competitive edge in the space domain. This approach strengthens the Space Force's capacity, elevates its capabilities and fortifies the resilience of space architecture, ensuring the U.S. remains at the forefront of a rapidly evolving industry.
Space Launch Delta 45 plays a critical role in shaping the future of space operations by assuring access to space for the U.S. and global partners amid an increasingly dynamic geopolitical environment. The success of the NG-1 mission marks a new chapter for launch operations at the Eastern Range, redefining commercial-military collaboration to maintain Space Launch Delta 45's position as the world's premier gateway to space.
| Date Taken: | 01.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 01.16.2025 03:02 |
| Story ID: | 489166 |
| Location: | CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 269 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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