Blue Origin has proposed increasing the annual launch frequency of its New Glenn rocket from 12 to 50 missions. The Federal Aviation Administration released a draft environmental assessment on September 29, which also covers up to 100 static fire tests and the recovery of payload fairings annually from the LC-36 complex.
The company is currently working to restore its launch site following a major explosion in late May that destroyed a rocket. CEO Dave Limp confirmed that approximately 1,000 employees are working around the clock to resume operations by the end of 2026. The facility is being upgraded to support a significantly higher production rate.
Manufacturing capabilities are being scaled to produce up to 150 second stages per year. While the second stage is expendable, the first stage is designed for at least 25 flights. Public hearings regarding the proposed launch increase are scheduled for October 22.
For the first time in its 25-year history, Blue Origin is seeking external funding. CEO Dave Limp noted that the current investment round is oversubscribed, though specific valuation and total figures remain undisclosed. Previous reports suggested a potential $10 billion target, with $2 billion coming from Jeff Bezos.
The capital raise is intended to support the development of the TeraWave satellite constellation and the Project Sunrise orbital data center network. These initiatives follow successful milestones in testing the reusability of the New Glenn first stage.
