NASA Partners with Blue Origin for New Glenn Testing to Support Artemis

NASA and Blue Origin have agreed to conduct second stage hot fire testing for the New Glenn rocket on the historic B-2 test stand at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, according to announcements from the agency and the company. The testing partnership, finalized through an annex to an existing Space Act Agreement signed earlier this month, supports upcoming Artemis missions targeted for 2027 and beyond to land American astronauts on the lunar surface and build a Moon base near the lunar South Pole.

Stennis B-2 Test Stand Prepares for New Glenn Second Stage

Testing on the B-2 stand is targeted to begin this fall, according to NASA. To support the operations, NASA will provide engineers, equipment, and building services to design, build, and install parts that prepare the stand for second stage testing of the rocket named after astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. The rocket’s second stage is powered by two BE-3 engines utilizing liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants, with each engine generating 200,000 pounds of thrust in a vacuum.

NASA will also supply dedicated workspace and share agency expertise and propulsion testing lessons learned, according to agency officials. The B-2 stand carries a deep history in American space exploration, having been originally constructed by the agency to test Saturn V rocket stages for the Apollo Program. More recently, NASA used the stand to conduct a Green Run test series of the Space Launch System (SLS) core stage prior to the Artemis I flight.

Leadership and Commercial Partnership Perspectives

“Stennis continues to be a hub for the commercial space industry,” said Sen. Roger Wicker, welcoming Blue Origin’s return to the Mississippi coast and its rocket testing facilities. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith noted that the success of Artemis II has roots at NASA Stennis and expressed hope that the use of the B-2 test stand becomes a long-term arrangement for future crewed missions to the Moon and beyond. Rep. Mike Ezell emphasized that the agreement brings high-skilled jobs and reinforces the nation’s leadership in space exploration.

“Winning the new space race means moving faster and working alongside a strong commercial industry,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, adding that the partnership puts world-class American infrastructure to work supporting sustained lunar operations and future Mars missions. Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp stated that the company is proud to partner with NASA to build on their shared commitment to returning America to the Moon.

Artemis Campaign and Upcoming Lunar Missions

The agreement directly feeds into the broader Artemis architecture. Following the successful Artemis II flight in April, Artemis III will require four astronauts to test rendezvous and docking capabilities between NASA’s Orion spacecraft and commercial human landing systems from Blue Origin and SpaceX in low Earth orbit, according to NASA plans. Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket will also be used to launch missions that land directly on the Moon.

In May, NASA announced the first three Moon Base missions, which included an award to Blue Origin to launch a robotic mission this fall. The company’s Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander will deliver NASA payloads to the lunar South Pole’s Shackleton Connecting Ridge, demonstrating key capabilities to reduce risk for astronauts to land on the Moon during Artemis IV and V in 2028.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where will the Blue Origin New Glenn second stage testing take place?

Testing will take place on the B-2 test stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

What engines power the New Glenn second stage?

The second stage is powered by two BE-3 engines running on liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, generating 200,000 pounds of thrust each in a vacuum.

When is testing scheduled to begin?

Testing on the B-2 test stand is targeted to begin this fall.