Blue Origin New Glenn at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Project

Blue Origin currently has an FAA AST vehicle operator license (VOL 24-133) to conduct New Glenn launches at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS) Space Launch Complex 36 (SLC-36). Blue Origin’s vehicle operator license authorizes up to 12 New Glenn launches per year at SLC-36. The New Glenn launch vehicle is a two-stage orbital rocket (with an optional third stage) with a reusable first stage that can land on an platform at sea in the Atlantic Ocean. Blue Origin is proposing to increase its New Glenn launch operational cadence.

In Progress: Environmental Assessment for Blue Origin New Glenn Launch Cadence Increase at CCSFS SLC-36

The FAA announced the availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment for the Blue Origin New Glenn Cadence Increase at Space Launch Complex 36A, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida (Draft EA). The FAA is the lead agency on this Draft EA. 

An electronic version of the Draft EA is available on this website for download. 

• Draft EA – Main Body
• Appendix A.1.1
• Appendix A.1.2 Part 1
• Appendix A.1.2 Part 2
• Appendix A.2 – A.3
• Appendices B-D

Under the Proposed Action addressed in the Draft EA, the FAA would modify Blue Origin’s vehicle operator license to authorize:

• The increase of the maximum annual New Glenn launch cadence at Space Launch Complex 36A from 12 to 50 launches per year, including associated static fire engine testing, downrange first-stage ocean platform landings, and payload fairing recovery; and
• The issuance of temporary airspace closures associated with New Glenn launches and associated operations at Space Launch Complex 36A.

Draft EA Public Review and Comment Period

The FAA released the Draft EA on September 29, 2026 for public review and comment. The public comment period ended on October 30, 2026. All comments received during the comment period will be given equal weight and taken into consideration in the preparation of the Final EA.

Draft EA Public Meeting

The FAA held a public meeting on October 22, 2026, at 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. The public meeting included a presentation by the FAA on the Proposed Action and Draft EA.

Copies of the presentation and script can be accessed below.

• Access the presentation
• Access the script

Completed: Environmental Assessment for Blue Origin Orbital Launch Site at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

The U.S. Air Force (now the U.S. Space Force [USSF]) was the lead agency, and FAA was a cooperating agency, in the preparation of the 2016 Final Environmental Assessment for Blue Origin Orbital Launch Site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida (2016 EA). The 2016 EA analyzed the potential environmental impacts of Blue Origin constructing and operating a commercial launch site at the combined areas of Launch Complexes 11 and 36 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (now the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station). The Proposed Action analyzed in the 2016 EA included engine testing and up to 12 launches per year of a heavy-lift class orbital vehicle, which was later named New Glenn. Following an independent review and consideration of the 2016 EA, FAA issued a Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision (FONSI/ROD) concurring with, and formally adopting, the analysis of impacts and findings in the 2016 EA.

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