Blue Origin’s New Glenn Rocket On Track For National Security Certification

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is on a trajectory to achieve certification under the U. S. Space Force’s National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, with a four-flight campaign serving as its pathway. This benchmark was selected by Blue Origin and agreed upon by the government, according to Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, who leads the Space Systems Command. The rocket has already successfully completed two missions, with a third launch expected to occur earlier in the new year.

If the upcoming flights stay on track, Garrant expressed optimism that New Glenn will be in a strong position to become the third certified provider and compete for national security missions. NSSL certification is a critical step for new launch providers, as it verifies that a rocket is reliable, repeatable, and ready for operational use.

The certification process involves technical assessments, flight demonstrations, and substantial data sharing to ensure the vehicle performs as modeled. The specifics of the certification framework are tailored to each rocket, with the number of flights required depending on design maturity, test history, and the government’s risk tolerance.

This information was reported by SpaceNews, a reputable source for space-related news and developments. According to their report, the Space Force has leaned toward risk-based assessments rather than formulaic flight counts recently ← →