{"id":39245,"date":"2015-09-16T00:15:16","date_gmt":"2015-09-15T16:15:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/blue-origin-take-over-lc-36-at-the-cape-prepare-for-orbital-launches\/"},"modified":"2015-09-16T00:15:16","modified_gmt":"2015-09-15T16:15:16","slug":"blue-origin-take-over-lc-36-at-the-cape-prepare-for-orbital-launches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/blue-origin-take-over-lc-36-at-the-cape-prepare-for-orbital-launches\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Origin take over LC-36 at the Cape \u2013 prepare for orbital launches"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blue Origin is setting up base on the Space Coast after announcing an agreement to take over the historic Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) at Cape Canaveral. The announcement will result in over 300 jobs being created as Blue Origin set up its home base for production and launches \u2013 set to included its new orbital rocket flying with its BE-4 engine.<\/p>\n

Blue Origin:<\/p>\n

Blue Origin \u2013 owned by Billionaire Jeff Bezos \u2013 recently upped its game when it announced a deal with the United Launch Alliance (ULA) for the development of the powerful BE-4 engine.<\/p>\n

The arrangement with space industry giant ULA will ensure Blue Origin will be involved with flagship missions on ULA\u2019s new Vulcan launch vehicle.<\/p>\n

The announcement came after the company dipped its feet into its Commercial Crew aspirations via an unfunded Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA during the Commercial Crew Program drive.<\/p>\n

\"2015-04-30-142948\"The NASA-level cooperation allowed for the development of Blue Origin\u2019s biconic-shape capsule, in tandem with working on its launch vehicle development.<\/p>\n

The company took another step forward when it successfully test launched its New Shepard vehicle utilizing its variable-throttle BE-3 engine \u2013 that is designed to mirror the goals of SpaceX\u2019s Merlin 1D engine, with the role of launching uphill, before conducting a propulsive return, enabling the commercially attractive aspiration of reuse on future missions.<\/p>\n

The BE-3 engine \u2013 which has undergone a large amount of testing, including runs on the E-1 test stand at NASA\u2019s Stennis Space Center \u2013 may also be sold to commercial companies as a potential upper stage option.<\/p>\n

\"2015-04-30-143155\"The test flight of New Shepard, from Blue Origin\u2019s test site in West Texas, resulted in a successful lofting of its capsule to 307,000 feet.<\/p>\n

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While that next attempt will include a fine-tuned attempt of landing the booster, Blue Origin is already eyeing an evolution of its technology, with a marriage of its BE-4 engine, and for launches to take place out of LC-36.<\/p>\n

Blue Origin evaluated a number of sites for a large production facility, before finally settling on the Space Coast location.<\/p>\n

Assisted at the political level, with aerospace economic development agency, Space Florida, the focal point for finalizing the deal, Blue Origin selected the Space Coast out of options in 12 States.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"2015-09-15-185051\"LC-36 \u2013 and its two pads \u2013 has a huge history, involving 145 launches over four decades.<\/p>\n

It was the launch site for missions ranging from interplanetary to communications and national defense payloads.<\/p>\n

In the mid-1960s, the complex suffered a dramatic failure when the fifth Atlas-Centaur \u2013 and final rocket to use the Centaur-C \u2013 lifted off from LC-36A on 2 March 1965 with the SD-1 spacecraft; a dynamic test article for the Surveyor program.<\/p>\n

Two seconds after liftoff, the an engine failure resulted in the rocket falling back onto its launch pad and exploding, causing significant damage to the complex.<\/p>\n

\"2015-09-15-184954\"Following this failure, construction of a second launch pad at LC-36B, which had been put on hold, was resumed, and the pad was completed later that year.<\/p>\n

With LC-36A still under repair, the sixth Atlas-Centaur launch, and first flight of the RL10A-3-1 powered Centaur-D, lifted off in August carrying SD-2.<\/p>\n

Notable missions to launch from LC-36 include the Mariner missions \u2013 the first US spacecraft to visit other planets, Pioneer 10 \u2013 the first spacecraft to travel through the asteroid belt, and Surveyor 1 \u2013 the first US spacecraft to land softly on the Moon.<\/p>\n

\"2015-09-15-185615\"The major structures at the complex were demolished in 2006, a year after its final launch \u2013 conducted by an Atlas IIAS, lofting the NROL-1 spacecraft.<\/p>\n

The potential to revamp the complex came in 2010 when the USAF 45th Space Wing issued a Real Property License to Space Florida for LC-36.<\/p>\n

Five years later, Moon Express leased the pad in from Space Florida to use as a test site for the MTC-1X Lunar lander flight test vehicle.<\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s Tuesday\u2019s announcement that will breath new life into the complex, as Blue Origin utilize the Space Coast area not only for launches, but for the production of hardware.<\/p>\n

See Also<\/h4>\n