NASA, Blue Origin Set New Glenn Hot-Fire Tests for Fall at B-2 Stand for 2027 Artemis
Updated
Updated · NASA · Jul 24
NASA, Blue Origin Set New Glenn Hot-Fire Tests for Fall at B-2 Stand for 2027 Artemis
3 articles · Updated · NASA · Jul 24
Summary
Fall testing at NASA’s Stennis Space Center will put Blue Origin’s New Glenn second stage through hot-fire runs under a newly expanded reimbursable Space Act Agreement.
The B-2 stand campaign supports Artemis missions from 2027 onward, with NASA saying New Glenn launches will feed a multi-launch lunar architecture and future Moon Base work.
NASA will supply engineers, equipment, building services and test expertise to ready B-2, where New Glenn’s upper stage—powered by two BE-3 engines—will be tested.
Blue Origin already holds a role in NASA’s lunar plans: its Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander is slated to launch a robotic South Pole mission this fall, ahead of Artemis IV and V in 2028.
The deal also revives a historic Moon-program site, with B-2 having tested Saturn V stages in Apollo and the SLS core stage before Artemis I.