FAA To Hold Online Public Hearing on Blue Origin Plans For 50 New Glenn Launches A Year

The Federal Aviation Administration will hold a virtual public meeting on Thursday, October 22nd on Blue Origin’s request to more than quadruple New Glenn launches from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The meeting runs from 6 to 7 PM ET on Zoom. Registration in advance is required. All interested parties should plan to attend. Whether you are for against this plan, this is your one and only chance to go on record with your views unless you mail your comments. Information for registration is below. You will need Zoom, which can be downloaded for free here: https://zoom.us/download From Once A Month To Nearly Every Week Blue Origin wants to increase New Glenn launches at SLC-36 from 12 to 50 per year. It also wants to add payload fairing recovery. The change requires a modification to the company’s current FAA vehicle operator license, VOL 24-133, issued in December 2024. The FAA published a draft environmental assessment Sept. 29 that builds on a 2016 Air Force assessment, which covered up to 12 launches a year. The FAA said finishing the environmental review does not guarantee Blue Origin will get the license change. The company must also meet the agency’s safety, risk and financial responsibility requirements. The 50,000 Foot View Each year Blue Origin could conduct up to 50 launches and land up to 50 first stages on an ocean platform 300 to 500 nautical miles downrange. The company could also run up to 50 static fire tests of the full vehicle and up to 50 of the second stage, though it does not expect to static fire before every launch. For its analysis, the FAA assumed half of all static fires and launches would happen between 10 PM ET and 7 AM ET. Under the fairing recovery plan, each fairing half would use a reaction control system to stay stable as it reenters and falls toward an offshore recovery area. A support vessel would collect the intact halves and any floating debris. Have Your Say To The USA Comments can be made verbally during the meeting, online at regulations.gov under docket FAA-2026-9841 or by mail to Amy Hanson, c/o ICF, FAA Environmental Protection Specialist, Blue Origin SLC-36 EA, 1902 Reston Metro Plaza, Reston, VA 20190 Comments must be received or postmarked by Oct. 30. Speakers at the meeting get three minutes. Those with connection problems can listen by phone at the number below. Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Eastern time.Registration link:https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3pciaV6iQbegKLgBzqIgFA.Dial-in phone number: 1-888-788-0099 (Toll Free), Webinar ID: 833 9840 7316, Passcode: 639439 The draft assessment is available at https://www.faa.gov/space/stakeholderengagement/blue-origin-new-glenn. FONSI Blue Origin Orbital Launch Site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station FloridaDownload After the comment period closes, the FAA will issue a finding of no significant impact, a mitigated finding, or a notice that it will prepare a full environmental impact statement.