National security launch schedule not likely impacted by New Glenn disaster - Breaking Defense

New Glenn at liftoff during the NG-1 mission, Jan. 16, 2025. (Photo: Blue Origin)

WASHINGTON — The May 28 explosion on the test pad of Blue Origin’s New Glenn heavy lifter at Cape Canaveral is unlikely to have an impact on the Space Force’s national security launch schedule, industry officials and experts said.

Even if it takes the company as long as a year to get back into orbit due to the damage to the pad, the Space Force’s current plans don’t envision manifesting the rocket under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 program until 2028 at the earliest.

“For NSSL, there’s time to get [New Glenn] back on track,” said one industry representative.

In addition, the Space Force always can fall back on SpaceX to carry its payloads if it becomes necessary down the road to reschedule launches planned for New Glenn.